Different messages for different audiences. In a first day of Eid al-Adha speech at Tehran University former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani comments: "The problems will not be limited to Iran. Many (countries) will suffer from the smoke from this fire." Later in a sermon on Iranian state television he states: "We are ready to resolve the accusations with logic, negotiations and inspections. We are ready to cooperate with international bodies under their regulations." Source: Nasser Karimi. "Rafsanjani: U.N. Sanctions Will Backfire." Washington Post. December 31, 2006.

In a speech at at Baqiyatollah Medical University, Commander of the Islamic Revolution’s Guards Corps (IRGC) Major Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi explains: "Their major concern is to see the Islamic Republic of Iran becoming a regional superpower...Our enemies are determined to prevent us from attaining such a goal...Due to our access to scientific and technological know-how, the nation can take significant strides toward progress." Source: n.a. "Safavi: Enemies Fear Iran's Regional Clout." IranMania. December 30, 2006. News Report

Shopping around for someone to fight Isreal's war against Iran? The Jerusalem Post quotes a senior Israeli Defense Force (IDF) source as saying: "There are people who want this issue to come up and want NATO to start talking about Iran...This should be on NATO's agenda." Source: Yaakov Kaatz. "'NATO Interested in Iran's Nuke Program'". Jerusalem Post. December 28, 2006.

U.S. Deputy Press Secretary Scott Stanzel complained that the vote in the Iranian Majlis would, "worsen the situation in the eyes of the world." (Does the White House think that it speaks for "the world?") Iranian Majlis Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel commented: "The bill gives a free hand to the government to decide on a range of reactions—from leaving the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to remaining in the International Atomic Energy Agency and negotiating." Source: n.a. "Iran's Parliament Votes to Revise Ties With the U.N. Nuclear Agency." Associated Press & International Herald Tribune. December 27, 2006.

Defiance from Tehran. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tells a group of war veterans: "This [UN sanctions resolution] will not damage the nation of Iran, but its issuers will soon regret this superficial and nil act." In a better quote Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani states: "From Sunday morning, we will begin activities at Natanz, the site of 3,000-centrifuge machines, and we will drive it with full speed. It will be our immediate response to the resolution." Source: Nasser Karimi. Iran Rebuffs U.N., Vows to Speed Up Uranium Enrichment." Washington Post & Associated Press. December 25, 2006.

UN Security Council votes to appove Resolution 1737 imposing limited economic sanctions following two months of intense negotiations between the U.S., EU 3, Russia and China. U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns complains: "We don't think this resolution is enough in itself. We want the international community to take further action. We're certainly not going to put all our eggs in the U.N. basket...We want to let the Iranians know that there is a big cost to them." Source: Jennifer Loven. "U.S. Hails U.N. Resolution Against Iran." Associated Press. December 23, 2006.

Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani comments on the ineffectiveness of sanctions and Western motivations: "This behaviour will just create more problems. They should know that if they ratify the resolution Iran will be in a new situation. In this situation Iran will review its cooperation with the agency (International Atomic Energy Agency) and (review) other political, economic and cultural fields. The issue for the other side is not whether Iran's programme is peaceful or not. Basically they don't want Iran to have such technology." Source: n.a. "Iran Says U.N. Resolution Won't Stop Nuclear Work." Reuters'. December 21, 2006.

Mossad Chief Meir Dagan tells the IsrealiKnesset's Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense that Iran will not get the bomb before 2009: "The diplomatic effort to block Iran's nuclear program is far from being over. The threat is close enough to draw attention and yet far enough to allow time for action." By 2008 the Iranian centrifuges will have produced approximately 25 kilograms or 55 pounds of enriched uranium. Source: Aluf Benn. "Mossad Chief: Iran Will Not Get Nuclear Bomb Before 2009." Haaretz. December 20, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reminds everone of the European 3's hypocrisy of turning a blind eye to Israeli PM Olmert's admission that his government has nuclear weapons while continuing to pressure Iran to give up its nuclear program: "They shamelessly remain silent or smile in consent toward the official announcement by the Zionist occupying regime possessing nuclear weapons, but insist, using their influence in global organizations, to impose so-called sanctions against the Iranian nation." Source: Ali Akbar Darieni. "Ahmadinejad Says UN Sanctions Won't Stop Iran's Nuclear Program." The Canadian Press. December 20, 2006.

While in KermanshahIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tells an audience of disabled war veterans and families of war deads: "Our domestic mission is to build a genuinely independent, powerful, progressive and model country while our international mission is to lead the world to salvation through resistance against bullying powers. The US and Britain cannot threaten the Iranian nation with their bullying, which have no effect on them." Source: n.a. "President Urges Nation to Stand Shoulder to Shoulder With Corrupt Powers." IRNA. December 20, 2006. (This is the most amusing badly translated news article title in recent memory!)

While in the town of Javanroud, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad predicted: "Today, it is the United States, Britain and the Zionist regime which are doomed to disappear as they have moved far away from the teachings of God." Source: n.a. "Britain, Israel, US To 'Vanish'." News 24. December 20, 2006. News Report (Just like protestant Christian milennialists, Ahmadinejad likes to make vague predictions and then attribute them to god.)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov murmurs "victory" by telling Interfax: "The new resolution prepared by the EU3 that is now being discussed in the Security Council has to a large extent taken into account our approaches." Source: n.a. "Russia Signals Hope for Ending Iran Nuclear Impasse." CBC & Associated Press. December 19, 2006. News Article

Second Bush administration sends second aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf to deter and possibly attack Iran.

Elie Wiesel demands punishment of Iran: "We believe everything must be done so Iran does not become a nuclear power." Source: Eva Cahen. "Don't Let Iran Become Nuclear Power, Nobel Laureate Urges." CNS News December 15, 2006. The "we" he refers to are French intellectuals.

Incoming UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon condemns factual relativism: "Denying historical facts, especially on such an important fact as the Holocaust, is just not acceptable, nor is it acceptable to call for the elimination of any state or people." Source n.a. "Ki-Moon Condemns Iran's Shoah Denial." Jerusalem Post & Associated Press. December 14, 2006. News Article. Does Ki-Moon's insistence on objective fact extend to the existence of Isreali nuclear weapons?

Israeli commentator Yossi Melman claims Israeli nuclear weapons have been useful in intimidating neighboring Arab states: "It has been the right policy; it has helped Israel. The Arabs, knowing that Israel is a nuclear superpower and a conventional weapons superpower, probably reduced their aspirations or limited their plans." Source: Joshua Mitnick. "Why Israel Maintains Nuclear Ambiguity." The Christian Science Monitor. December 14, 2006. News Article.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Ali Hosseini describes Olmert's slip as a "confession" that Israel is the real threat to Middle East security and stability, and evidence of hypocrisy: "The advocators and supporters of the Zionist regime are quite inconsiderate of this regime's confession of nuclear arms possession and have shut their eyes on this crucial and significant incident. They have not even shown any reaction but simply recognized it on merely academic and scientific grounds as synonymous with hatred and eradication. Such paradoxical approaches reveal that the supporters of the Zionist regime have abused freedom, democracy, justice and peace for the sake of a group of Zionist extremists." Source: n.a. "Iran: Zionist Regime PM Nuclear Slip, Discloses a Real Threat to Mid East." ISNA. December 13, 2006. News Article; n.a. "Spokesman: Confession of Zionist PM, Real Threat to Regional Security." IRNA. December 13, 2006;

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert meets Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and Pope Benedict XVI in Rome to discuss Iranian nuclear proliferation. Source: Yossi Verter and Assef Uni. "Lebanon, Iran top Olmert's Agenda on Visit to Germany, Italy." Haaretz. December 10, 2006. Prodi calls on the international community to "do everything possible to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons". (Presumably that means Italy will offer a little military assistance to the U.S. in a war against Iran.) Kadima party strategist and Olmert crony Eyal Arad was in Italy before the visit establishing Kadima Italia. Source: Daniel Mosseri. "Olmert: Prodi is a Friend of Israel." European Jewish Press. December 14, 2006.EJP

Russian Russian General Staff Chief Gen. Yuli Buluyevsky throws more cold water on the idea of sanctions againt Iran: "In principle, sanctions are not an effective instrument to resolve problems, especially regarding Iran," Yury Baluyevsky Speaking about sanctions, we should carefully consider any further steps and their consequences. If sanctions are imposed, they will freeze prospects to launch talks in the near future. Tehran may reduce and even stop cooperation with the IAEA in response. Generally speaking, we will be gradually cornering Iran, the Security Council and the situation as a whole." Source: n.a. "Sanctions May Freeze Talks on Iran Nuclear Program-Army Chief." RIA Novosti. December 13, 2006.

Oops, Olmert makes nuclear "slip of the tongue" while on a tour of the former Axis powers. During a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin to discuss Iranian nuclear proliferation Isreali PM Ehud Olmert breaks the taboo against admitting that Isreal is a nuclear weapons state:"Iran, openly, explicitly and publicly threatens to wipe Israel off the map. Can you say that this is the same level, when they are aspiring to have nuclear weapons, as America, France, Israel, Russia?" Source: Dan Williams. "Israel's Olmert Under Fire Over Nuclear Remarks." Reuters. December 12, 2006. Merkel comments: "It must be unmistakable and clear to Iran that (getting a nuclear weapon) would not be acceptable...That is why the time has come...not just to think about, but to work on sanctions." Source: Louis Charbonneau and Allyn Fisher-Ilan. "Germany's Merkel Says Iran Must Never Get Atom Bomb." Washington Post. December 12, 2006.

British PM Tony Blair described Iran as being a threat to the region in which it is a part: "I don't think there's any point us hiding the fact that Iran poses a major strategic threat for the cohesion of the entire region." Source: n.a. "Blair calls Iran major threat to Middle East." Scotsman and Reuters. December 12, 2006. The presence of all those American and British troops in Iraq would be what then, a benefit to the region?

He wasn't going to get the Muslim vote anyway. Republican Presidential candidate and Arizona Sen. John McCain effectively promises war against Iran in a speech before hundreds of prominent Jewish leaders at Yeshiva University's Yeshiva University's annual Chanukah dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria: There's only one thing worse that a military solution, and that, my friends, is a nuclear-armed Iran. The regime must understand that they cannot win a showdown with the world, and as Americans we also need to reassure the millions of Iranians who aspire to self determination that we support their longing for freedom and democracy." Sources: Kathleen Lucadamo. "McCain Blasts Iran on Giuliani's Terrain." New York Daily News. December 11, 2006; n.a. "McCain Assails Iran's Nuclear Aspirations In Yeshiva Address." NU 1 December 11, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announces that Iran has begun installing 3000 centrifuges for uranium enrichment at a plant in central Iran and crows that the the U.S., Britain, France and Germany were caving to Iranian resistance: "Resistance of the Iranian nation in the past year forced them to retreat tens of steps over Iran's nuclear issue." Source: n.a. "Iran Prez: Nuclear Program Moving Forward." CBS News and Associated Press. December 9, 2006.

Britain, France and Germany agree to the text of proposed sanctions against Iran to be introduced on December 11 that would "grandfather" or not cover Russian construction, supply and operation of the light-water reactor in Bushehr, Iran. Source: Warren Hoge. "Europeans Limit Scope of Iran Nuclear Resolution." The New York Times. December 8, 2006.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy states on RTL Radio that sanctions will be imposed against Iran: "The question is about the scope of sanctions but there will be sanctions." Source: Angela Charlton. "France Says Iran Will Face Sanctions." Associated Press. December 6, 2006. So Iran will be spanked in some fashion for doing what Israel, Pakistan, India, France, Britain, Russia and the United States have done in the past. If the French are serious about opposing Iranian nuclear proliferation why not offer to trade giving up French nuclear weapons for an Iranian agreement to do the same?

Speaker of the Iranian Consultative Assembly, a.k.a. the Iranian Majlis Gholam Ali Haddad Adel dismisses as unimportant the Israeli decision to create its new Minsitry of Strategic Affairs: "Even before the Zionist regime created this ministry, it clearly wanted to slow down the pace of Iran's progress." Sources: n.a. "Iran Blasts Israel's New Ministry Targeting its Nuclear Issue." People's Daily Online. December 7, 2006; n.a. "Zionist Regime Against a Powerful Speaker." IRNA. December 7, 2006.

In a Jerusalem Post interview, Daniel Ayalon states unequivocally that the U.S. will prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons: "I am absolutely certain that the US will not allow Iran to go nuclear, because this is a direct challenge to the most vital interests of the US in the region and beyond. There is a deep understanding of this among American strategic thinkers and political leaders in both parties." It's true that the focus right now is on a diplomatic solution and all avenues will be exhausted there, but we all should take seriously Bush and Rice's statements that all options are on the table, because they're not just posturing." Source: Gil Hofman. "Ayalon Says US Won't Let Iran Go Nuclear." Jerusalem Post. December 5, 2006. How does he know this? Did someone in the second Bush administration make this promise to him and his government? News Report

Second Bush administration Secretary of Defense nominee Robert Gates characterizes Iranian nuclear proliferation as deterrent in nature during his confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee: "And I think that while they are certainly pressing, in my opinion, for a nuclear capability, I think that they would see it in the first instance as a deterrent. They are surrounded by powers with nuclear weapons—Pakistan to their east, the Russians to the north, the Israelis to the west and us in the Persian Gulf." Zionist news sources twist this by emphaszing that Gates refused to guarantee that Iran will not attack Israel with its still nonexistent nuclear weapons with news coverage of the hearing that Gates "con't promise" Iran won't attack Israel. Source: n.a. "Peretz: Gates Remark Bears Examining." Jerusalem Post. December 5, 2006. News Report Gates also didn't promise that Israel won't attack Iran. Or that the Earth won't be sterilized in a gamma ray burst from a neighboring star.

In Dubai Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani comments that his government is not seeking nuclear weapons but that it will not give up its "inalienable rights" to develop nuclear power. Source: n.a. "Iran Says Won't Bow to Pressure on Nuclear Issue." Reuters. December 5, 2006.

The UN Security Council Permanent Five Plus Germany and the European Union continue negotiations in Paris about Iranian nuclear proliferation without agreement. In one of the silliest comments to come out of the negotiations, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nichols Burns said that the Russians and Chinese have to "shift into higher gear." Source: Gregory Viscusi. "U.S., Russia Narrow Differences Over Iran Nuclear Sanctions." Bloomberg. December 6, 2006. News Report

Israeli government of Ehud Olmert creates the Ministry of Strategic Affairs to be headed by uber-nationalist Avigdor Lieberman. Source: n.a. "Israel Okays New Ministry to Deal With Iran Threat." IranMania. December 4, 2006. New Report

Monumental hypocrisy. French Socialist Party nominee Segolene Royal states: "I think that is the greatest danger for the security of Israel and the world—and not just Israel, by the way, for that whole part of the world — and that we must not let Iran have access to civilian nuclear power. That will be my position if I am elected president." Source: n.a. "French presidential Candidate Royal Says Iran Should be Barred from Using Nuclear Power." Associated Press. December 5, 2006. France is the most enthusiastic developer of nuclear power on the planet and ignored the rest of the planet when it was developing its own nuclear weapons force du frappe. Royal should explain her brother's role in a certain bloody act of state sponsored terrorism against Greenpeace in New Zealand in defense of French nuclear tests in the Pacific?

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Ali Hosseini states: "No change has been witnessed in Russia's stance towards Iran. Russia tries to lessen the intensity of the draft resolutions drawn against Iran and we are satisfied with the Russians for these efforts and their different stances in comparison to the others." Source: n.a. "Iran FM spokesman: We Are Satisfied With the Russians for their Efforts." ISNA. December 3, 2006. Text of News Report

Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov reiterates Russian commitments to Iran: "All work at the plant in Bushehr and everything that is connected with the delivery of nuclear fuel and the subsequent return of spent nuclear fuel will be done under strict control, and for this reason we do not expect problems here." n.a. "Russia to Meet Iran Nuclear Power Plant Obligations-Ivanov." Itar-Tass. December 3, 2006. News Report

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice dismisses criticism of U.S. leadership in preventing Iranian nuclear proliferation: Unity is not an end in itself. I'm all for maintaining unity, but I'm also all for action." Source: Helene Cooper. "Dissent Weakens Coalition Pressing Iran on Nuclear Program." The New York Times. December 1, 2006. A17.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad publishes letter making unprecedented, direct appeal to the American people, urging them to reject current U.S. foreign policy. "If the U.S. government meets the current domestic and external challenges with an approach based on truth and justice, it can remedy some of the past afflictions and alleviate some of the global resentment and hatred of America." Source: n.a. "Iran Leader Appeals to US People." BBC News. November 29, 2006.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki complains about human rights in Canada: "This was the first time Iran submitted a resolution against Canada's horrible, yet modern violation of the rights of the indigenous residents of this country." Source: n.a. "Iran to Pursue Human Rights Violation in Canada." IranMania. November 24, 2006.

More of the same from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "They think that the government and nation of Iran are like some other courtiers, whom crack down in front of them even with the smallest threat or pressure, but they should know that the nation of Iran will never kneel in front of their demands. Today, the knowledge of our people and our nuclear policies progress daily, and it is the enemy which is stepping back. Today, the U.S. policies have been defeated in the international arena, and they are no longer able to decide." Source: ISNA November 22, 2006. Also from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "[T]he evil president of the U.S visited Indonesia and you saw how people of Indonesia opposed the thoughts of this person...We will first have to break the horn of the big head so that justice can be done...Some bullying countries impose their illegal demands on independent and free countries while enjoying the support of some international organizations, which they founded for defending their own interests." Source: n.a. "Iranian President Describes Bush as Evil, Says Iran Must Thwart US Arrogance." Associated Press. November 22, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appears to express belief that nuclear power is the key to the future: "Initially, they (the US and its allies) were very angry. The reason was clear: They basically wanted to monopolize nuclear power in order to rule the world and impose their will on nations. Today, they have finally agreed to live with a nuclear Iran, with an Iran possessing (the whole) nuclear fuel cycle." Source: n.a. "Ahmadinejad: Iran Continues N. Work until Launching 60 thousand Centrifuges." FARS News Agency. November 22, 2006. News Report

ISNA quotes Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation Director Gholamreza Aghazadeh states: Whether the IAEA helps or not, the research reactor in Arak will continue its work. If the IAEA denies the assistance, it will be harmful for the IAEA...It is the IAEA that insists on Iran cooperating with it on the security dimension of the reactor." Source: Alireza Ronaghi. "Iran Vows to Press On With Arak Reactor." Washington Post & Reuters. November 18, 2006.

Speaking to reporters aboard in Hanoi, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice threatens unspecified bad consequences for Iran: "I think they have to take any Chapter 7 resolution seriously. You know, Chapter 7 resolutions--it's a small club. It now includes North Korea, it includes for not much longer Iraq. It's a really small club. And to be in that club has all kinds of collateral effects that I think the Iranians will not be able to ignore. They already have banks leaving Iran and refusing to deal with their accounts. I think that you will see that investment decisions about Iran are affected by the fact that they're under a Chapter 7 resolution with the potential for further sanctions. Whatever this initial list looks like, there's always the potential for future sanctions. So you know, I know that the Iranians have a tendency to say, oh, well, they really don't care if they're under Security Council sanctions. Well, most people try to avoid Security Council sanctions for a reason, and the Iranians have done everything that they can to avoid Security Council sanctions. It shouldn't surprise anybody that every time we get close to a Security Council resolution, every Iranian diplomat in the world is on a plane somewhere to argue against Security Council resolutions. So I guess they do care what happens." Asked about propsed international sanctions becoming weaker, she tries to spin past weakness into future strength: "I just think it's the wrong way to look at it. The fact of the matter is, first of all, sanctions are there to try to convince people to negotiate. They're not there just for the purpose of having sanctions. But if they won't negotiate, then they will live under the specter of a Chapter 7, which is really, you know, opprobrium from the international community that you've done something bad enough to be under Chapter 7 is pretty bad. And then people start making decisions based on your status in the international system, and that's not something that the United States will have to make a very big deal of. People can read the tea leaves. People can understand that if this continues and the Iranians continue to move down a nuclear road that it's entirely possible that there are further sanctions. And they start to make decisions accordingly. So to my mind, the important breakthrough was 1696 when it became clear that the Security Council, in particular the P-5, would come back under Article 41 of Chapter 7." Source: "Roundtable With Traveling Press." U.S. Department of State Transcript. November 16, 2006. Text

IRNA quotes Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying: "The Iranian nation is about to take its final step in the nuclear issue." Source: n.a. "Iran Soon To Take "Final Step" in Atomic Plan-IRNA." Reuters November 16, 2006.

Yet more nationalist and nuclearist rhetoric from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "The Iranian nation stands for its nuclear right and will go ahead until the end...Time is on the Iranian nation's side. With each passing day, (the West) must retreat one step and acknowledge the rights of the Iranian nation and with each passing day the Iranian nation goes ahead toward the summits of victory...By the grace of God, we will hold a great nuclear celebration before the end of this year, all over Iran." Source: Alireza Ronaghi. "Iran Vows to Pursue Atomic Plans 'Until the End'." Reuters. November 15, 2006.

U.S. President George W. Bush, standing next to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert states that a nuclear-armed Iran would not only threaten Israel but loom as an "incredibly destabilising" threat to the region and the world. Source: Barry Schweid. "Bush Rebuffs Blair on Peace Role for Iran." The Age. November 15, 2006. So nuclear armed Israel isn't a threat to the region?

Taunts find an easy target in arrogant pretension. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cannot resist twitting the Bush administration: "We won't talk to the Zionist regime because it is a usurper and an illegitimate entity. But we will talk to the U.S. government under certain conditions. Should it correct its behavior, we will talk to them." White House National Security Council spokesperson Gordon Johndroe responds by claiming to speak for the entire world: "I don't think this is about a U.S. attitude adjustment. The collective attitude of the world is that Iran needs to play a constructive role in the region, not meddle in Iraq and stop its (nuclear) enrichment activities." Source: Alu Akbar Darieni. "Iran Opens Door to Talks With U.S." Washington Post. November 14, 2006.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrives in Washington for meetings with important Bush adminisration decision makers and U.S. President George W. Bush on the Iranian nuclear crisis, the aftermath of the Lebanese-Israeli War and the Isreali-Palestinian War. Safely benath the American miltiary unbrella Olmert appears to threaten Iran: "I don't believe that Iran will accept such compromise unless they have a very good reason to fear the consequences of not reaching it. In other words: Iran must start to fear." Source: n.a. "Iran Must Start To Fear: Israeli PM." Peoples Daily Online. November 12, 2006.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds meeting with Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov states that Russia and Iran will work to see the resumption of international negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program: "We think it’s possible, if there is a goodwill, to find mutually acceptable basis for the resumption of talks on the basis of the proposals of the six and Iran’s response to them." Sources: n.a. "Iran’s Top Nuclear Negotiator Meets With Russian President." Boston Herald & Associated Press. November 11, 2006; n.a. "Russia, Iran will Push for Resumption of Talks - FM Lavrov." RIA Novosti. November 11, 2006.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei states that, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has the strength to bring about this unalienable national right, without needing others’ assistance or reaching out for other countries’ support." (The inalienable right he claims is nuclear research and development.) "Contrary to the West’s propaganda and ballyhoo," the Supreme leader continued, "the enemies of the Iranian nation, including the United States, are in a weaker position than they were 10 to 15 years ago. The U.S.’s defeat in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and Afghanistan indicate this reality...The American government used all its resources and went as far as feigningly accepting the formation of the Palestinian government in order for the Zionist regime to be free of encounters from the Palestinian people; however, the government which is today in power in Palestine does not recognise the legitimacy of the Zionist enemy and is not willing to negotiate with it. This shows the U.S.’s absolute defeat in Palestine." Source: n.a. "Khamenei Vows Iran Will Continue its Nuclear Activities." Iran Focus. November 8, 2006. Text

U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton experiences steep learnign curve. "We don't think the Russian text is consistent with what foreign ministers had agreed previously,: he complains. "I don't know how we are going to work it out because the Russian version is very different than what we think the foreign ministers agreed to. But we are going to discuss that this afternoon." Source: Irwin Arieff. "U.S. Says Moscow Backing Off Commitments on Iran." Reuters. November 7, 2006. Multilateralism is hard and not the kind of thing a presidential administration should put off trying to learn until late in its second term. Otherwise problems become intractable.

Civil War Spain provided the pre-WWII weapons testing ground for Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and the Soviet Union. Now it seems to be Lebanon's turn to play that role for Israel and Iran. Lebanese newpaper The Daily Star reports that Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Sheibani offers to provide Lebanon with anti-aircraft missiles. Source: n.a. "Iran to Provide Lebanon with Anti-Aircraft Missiles." Xinhua. November 6, 2006. News Report

Iran tests new automatic cannons with a range of 75 kilometers. Source: n.a. "Iran Tests New Automatic Cannons in War Games." Times of India. November 6, 2006. News Report

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov distances his governemnt from the sanctions proposal drawn up by Britain, France and Germany: "What the EU troika drew up went way beyond what had been agreed." Source: n.a. "Russia Says EU Draft on Iran Sanctions Goes Too Far." Reuters-Alert. November 3, 2006.

Iranian Revolutionary Guards deputy navy commander Admiral Sardar Fadavi comments on the naval exercise in the Persian Gulf: "I think the enemies of the Islamic Republic should stop their hostility in the Persian Gulf, and they should not make any move that could intensify the tensions in the region." Source: n.a. "Iran: Missile Launch Calls for U.S. to Stop Drills In Gulf." Xinhua. November 3, 2006.

Iran test fired its new Shahab-3 missile, believed capable of hitting targets in Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice complained and engaged in mind-reading: "I think the Iranians are a threat and that's why the international community's got to be strong in resisting their ambitions." Iran intended, she said, "to say to the world you're not going to keep us from getting a nuclear weapon. The world has to say to them, yes, we will." Source: n.a. "Rice Says By Firing Missiles Iran Trying Show Its Strength." International Herald Tribune. November 2, 2006.

IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei reports to the UN General Assembly: "The IAEA continues therefore to be unable to confirm the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, which is a matter of serious concern." Source: Irwin Arieff. "Iran Nuclear Plans Still A "Serious Concern": IAEA." Reuters. October 30, 2006.

More of the same from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "The Iranian nation will respond to restrictive activities with an appropriate and firm response. Efforts by the big powers will only incite anger and hatred." Source: Naser Karim. "Iran Plans 'Firm Response' To Sanctions: Iran Plans 'Firm Response' To Any Sanctions Imposed by U.N. Security Council." CBS News. October 30, 2006. News Report.

Something else Iranians have in common with Americans! Reform activist Mohammad-Reza Khatami, the younger brother of former President Mohammad Khatami, tells ISNA: "We reformists are worried whether the elections would be healthy or not and whether there would manipulations on elections day and vote counting." Source: n.a. "Iran Reformers Worried About Election Fraud." Deutsche Presse-Agentur. October 28, 2006.

ISNA reports that the Iranian government has begun a second series of cascades for centrifuges in its unranium enrichment program. The second cascade of 164 centrifuges is reported to produce uranium fuel at a 4.5% level of enrichment. Enrichment Source: Christine Hauser. "Iran Said to Take New Step to Enrich Uranium." The New York Times. October 26, 2006.

German, French and British diplomats reach agreement the text of a draft UN resolution on Iranian nuclear proliferation which they present to their Russian and Chinese counterparts. The resolution requires states to "prevent the supply, sale or transfer" involving the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile programs and prevents international financing and technical assistance for them. Individuals involved with the weapons programs also face travel restrictions and freezing the foreign assets. The draft resolution exempts Russia from the nuclear trade embargo, thus allowing it to continue work on the construction of the Bushehr nuclear facility. Rejected were proposed American amendments for additional restrictions on Russian-Iranian nuclear trade and characterizations of Iranian nuclear activities as threatening international peace and security. Source: Colum Lynch & Glenn Kessler. "U.S., European Allies at Odds on Terms of Iran Resolution." Washington Post. October 26, 2006.

British PM Tony Blair articulates a foreign policy that would requires both a heroic assumption (that civil and miltiary nuclear programs can be seperated) and primary enforcement responsibility by the U.S. military: "We have made it clear that we will not merely allow but help Iran with a civil nuclear power program, but we will not allow them to acquire material that goes to the development of a nuclear weapons capability." Source: n.a. "Blair: World Must Stop Iran From Getting Nuke Bomb." Associated Press & The Jerusalem Post. October 25, 2006. Article Text

IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei concludes that Iran is testing new uranium enrichment equipment that could double production: "[B]ased on our most recent inspections, the second cewntrifuge cascade is in place and ready to go." Source: David E. Sanger. "U.N. Official Says Iran Is testing New Enrichment Device." The New York Times. October 24, 2006. P A8.

Isreali Prime Minister (functional president) Ehud Olmert appeals for world (mostly U.S.) support in dealing with Iran: "We have to prepare for the struggle to prevent this capability being attained. This struggle is not just Israel's, it is not first and foremost Israel's." Olmert also plays the Holocaust card: "It is inconceivable that...a member of the United Nations continues to be received throughout the world as a legitimate leader while he stands up and says another U.N. member state should be wiped off the map. We shall never repeat the mistakes of 60 years ago, of taking things lightly, ignoring what was being heard then when it was still possible to save lives." Source: Amy Teibel. "Olmert Appeals to World on Iran Threats." Washington Post & Associated Press. October 23, 2006. (Decoded mesage: America, do our fighting for us because you feel guilty about crimes committed by the Nazis.)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad continues to sound defiant: "They (the West) should know that taking advantage of nuclear energy is the demand of all the Iranian nation...All the Iranian nation insists on this right and will not retreat one iota." Source: n.a. "Iran Won’t Retreat From Atomic Rights: President." Khaleej Times & Reuters. October 23, 2006.

In a telvised speech to a Tehran rally Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once again calls for negotiations on the nuclear crisis but insisted that Iran was within its rights: "Our nation does not want one iota more than its right...Our nation is in favor of talks and negotiations, but the world should know that the Iranian nation will not retreat one iota from its right." Source: n.a. "Iran Wants Talks on Atomic Rights." Reuters. October 19, 2006. He also predicted that Israel would fail because it was artifical: "Our nation has previously announced that this regime is illegitimate from its foundation. It is fabricated. It has been imposed on the nations of the region and it cannot survive." Source: Jack Kim. "Iran President Says Israel Illegitimate, Won't Last." Malaysia Star. October 19, 2006. Article Text

Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani blusters: "Iran will not stand idle if pressured to ignore its nuclear rights. The path of the Security Council, sanctions and illegal (imposition of) hardship is such a path in which the other side should expect a reciprocal act by...Iran. The (Iranian) parliament has prepared a plan based on which the inspections of the International Atomic Energy Agency will be suspended in the face of the West's adventurous behavior." Source: Ali Ronaghi. "Iran Atomic Aide Warns of Retaliation To Sanctions." Reuters. October 18, 2006.

Iranian government imposes limits on Iranian internet service providers (ISPs) reducing the speed of Internet access to homes and cafes. Source: n.a. "Iran Cuts Internet Speeds to Homes, Cafes." Reuters. October 18, 2006. (In Iran authoritarians attack the freedom of the internet directly with heavy naded government regulation. In America they do the same thing with greater subtlety by reducing it to property.)

Israeli Foreign Minister Mark Regev announces that Israeli Prime Minister (president) Ehud Olmert will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow: "Both countries are involved in a series of issues where there are concerns about the Iran nuclear program, what's going on in Lebanon and the Middle East peace process and we're eager to engage with the Russians on these issues...There are mutual interests and mutual concerns." Source: Corinne Heller. "Olmert to visit Putin to discuss nuclear Iran." Washington Post. October 15, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is insistent: "Iran’s nuclear activities have been completely in line with international law and treaties...The Islamic Republic has always sought talks and has defended its fundamental and rightful position within the framework of negotiations." Source: n.a. "Iran Determined to Pursue Nuclear Program: Ahmadinejad." Mehr News. October 14, 2006.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier reminds Iranian government that it can take the offer at any time: "We have made it extremely clear that our offer for cooperation with Iran remains on the table...We are prepared at any time to return to the negotiating table if Iran says it is ready to accept the conditions for negotiations." Source: Louis Charbonneau. "Germany To Iran: It's Not Too Late To Avoid Sanctions." Washington Post. October 14, 2006.

Iranian representative Hessam Khoshnevis announced that the Iran government would pay to rebuild 100 schools in Lebanon destroyed in the recent war. Source: n.a. "Iran To Build 100 Schools In Lebanon." Iran News. October 14, 2006.

Fantastically strained logic. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert comments that the North Korean nuclear weapons test illustrates the need for the international community to deal in an urgent, determined, courageous and united manner with the nuclear issue. Source: Ronny Sofer. "Olmert Urges Action Against Iran." YNet.news. October 12, 2006. Text. So the international community (i.e. the U.S., Britain, France and Germany) should respond to the nuclear test in North Korea by punishing Iran? The Neo-Conservative's Next War of Preference

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad roars defiance: "The day sanctions are imposed on Iran by its enemies, would be a day of national celebration for the Iranian nation...Iran has achieved nuclear technology under sanctions." Source: n.a. "Iran's President Says Sanctions Would Prompt 'National Celebration'." Associated Press & International Herald Tribune. October 11, 2006.

Iranian government spokesperson Gholam Hossein Elham put the blame for North Korean nuclear proliferation on the U.S.: "The root cause of this should be sought in the policy, behavior and method adopted by the rulers of the United States." Source: n.a. "Iran Blames U.S. For N. Korea Nukes: Also Vows To Continue Its 'Path Of Dignity' Toward Its Own Nuclear Program." CBS News. October 11, 2006.

October 11: U.S. Department of State criticises the appointment of Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi as the Iranian representative to the Tripartite Commission of Iran, Afghanistan, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva on October 9-10, 2006, describing him as a "notorious human rights violator." Source: n.a. "U.S., Iran Opposition Denounce Iran Cleric’s Visit To UN Body." Iran Focus. October 12, 2006. Text

There is no parallel betwen North Korean and Iranian nuclear declaration claim some in the West. U.S. President George W. Bush says: "North Korea is a different case...I don't expect our strategy on Iran will change. Iran certainly won't get put on the back burner." (Obviously.)

An unnamed British source says: "Iran is a democracy, however odious parts of the regime may be. North Korea is a dictatorship led by a man who people don't know very much about." Source: Louis Charbonneau. "Western Powers Dismiss Iran-N.Korea Comparisons." Reuters UK. October 9, 2006.

London meeting of the UN Security Council Five plus Germany is delayed because U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have trouble catching a flight. The excuse is that her flight was delayed in Iraq because her plane had problems. Source: Robin Wright. "Decision Delayed on Sanctions Against Iran Over Nuclear Issue." The Washington Post. October 6, 2006. (Sure. That's entirely plausible. Why wouldn't that ne true?) U.S. sources say a decision about sanctions will be made via conference call on October 9th or 10th.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad states: "We are ready to talk to remove the concerns. We want talks to continue but if anyone thinks talks can be used to pressure us they are wrong." Source: n.a. "Iran President Says Wants More Atomic Talks." Reuters. October 4, 2006.

EU "Foreign Minister" makes comments that communicate he is ready to abandon diplomacy with Iran: "It is up to the Iranians now to decide whether this time has come to an end." Source: n.a. "EU warns Iran 'Time Running Out'." BBC News. October 4, 2006.

Appearing at a news conference with Prince Saud al-Faisal, Foreign Minister of the most grotesque, most medieval tyranny in the Middle East, U.S. Secretary Condoleezza Rice states that, "We are continuing to hope that Iran will suspend its enrichment activities but we have no evidence that it is (going) to do so." Source: n.a. "Iran Must Stop Enrichment to Avoid Sanctions: Rice." Reuters. October 3, 2006.

French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jean-Baptiste Mattei states that, "If the Iranians accept our offer of double suspension, then we can enter into negotiations and each side will be free to make its proposals...The channel we have is through talks between Solana and Larijani and it's through that channel that propositions should be made." This appears to reject the iranian offer to allow France to monitor Iranian nuclear activities by having its nuclear fuel consortia Eurodif and Areva undertake uranium enrichment for Iran. Source: Gregory Viscusi & Fabio Benedetti-Valentini. "France Says Iran Must Halt Uranium Enrichment, Deal With EU." Bloomberg. October 3, 2006.

U.S. Pres. George W. Bush signs the Iran Freedon Support Act, saying, "I applaud Congress for demonstrating its bipartisan commitment to confronting the Iranian regime's repressive and destabilizing activities by passing the Iran Freedom Support Act...This legislation will codify U.S. sanctions on Iran while providing my administration with flexibility to tailor those sanctions in appropriate circumstances and impose sanctions upon entities that aid the Iranian regime's development of nuclear weapons." Source: n.a. "U.S. Legalizes Sanctions for Iran Atom Aid." Agence France Preses and International Herald Tribune. October 1, 2006.

The Iranian President wants war too. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad comments that his government would not suspend uranium enrichment for "one single day." Source: n.a. "Iran Will Not Suspend Uranium Enrichment For a 'Single Day'." Deutsche Presse-Agentur. September 28, 2006.

Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani comments positively if vaguely on his negotiations with the EU "foreign minister Javier Solana: "It has been a long, constructive negotiation...We have been able to arrive at some positive conclusions. Today we have discussed modalities with the aim of coming back to the main negotiations as soon as possible." Source: n.a. "Iran Negotiator Sees "Positive Conclusions" in Nuclear Talks." Deutsche-Welle. September 28, 2009.

Avner Cohen, author of "Israel and the Bomb," remarks on the parallels between Iranian and Israeli nuclear proliferation: "Whether deliberately or inadvertently, there are elements of resemblance between the way Iran is pursuing its nuclear program today and the way Israel was pursuing its own program in the 1960s...This is a great irony of history but Iranian policymakers and nuclear technocrats may be strategically mimicking the Israeli model." Source: Bernd Debusmann. "Iran seen borrowing nuclear strategy from Israel." The Washington Post. September 27, 2006.

Sergei Shmatko, president of Russia’s state-run company Atomstroiexport, and Mahmoud Hanatian, vice president of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization sign deal for the Russian vendor to supply fuel for the Iranian reactor at Bushehr in March 2007. Reactor start-up is planned for September 2007 and electric generation by November 2007. Source: n.a. "Russia Agrees to Send Fuel for Iran Nuclear Plant." Associated Press and The New York Times. September 26, 2007.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice makes pessimistic noises about diplomacy producing a result desired by the second Bush administration: "It is important in keeping a coalition together to--if people want to explore something that doesn't move you very far off course, to go ahead and explore it. And I think you get into a stronger position that way." Source: n.a. "Rice Says Time is Running Out for Iran to N-halt." IranMania. September 29, 2006.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov states, "Russia has never set factitious terms to reach conflict settlement. Our goal is to ensure the inviolability of the non-proliferation regime....Russia is not sitting idle and waiting for how the EU High Representative Javier Solana’s talks on Iran will end. It is actively working with the Iranian counterparts to ensure a maximally favourable result of such contacts...All partakers in the talks call for pooling efforts to settle the problem by political and diplomatic means. There are enough possibilities for finding such solution to the problem." Source: n.a. "Russia FM Says No Reason to Impose Sanctions On Iran." Iran Focus. September 24, 2006.

Iranian Vice President Parviz Davoodi hyperbolizes: "We want peace but we warn the expansionists not to think of an aggression against Iran as we can defend the fatherland and Islam...Our lions are so powerful that they can strike the enemy like lightning and destroy him." Source: n.a. "Iran Warns of "Lighting' Response to Any Attack." Khaleej Times. September 22, 2006.

Governments of United States, France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia agree to set a new deadline for Iranian compliance, the fourth deadline so far. The new deadline is the first week in October. Source: Glenn Kessler. "Early October New Deadline for Iran: Suspension of Nuclear Program Still Precondition for Talks With U.S." The Washington Post. September 21, 2006.

During a news conference at the UN Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad states: "We believe those negotiations are moving on the right path. Hopefully others will not disrupt the work--in small ways perhaps. It is a constructive path to take." Source: n.a. "Iran's Ahmadinejad: Nuclear Talks on Right Path." Reuters. September 21, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad states that, "Iran's nuclear program is not an important subject and does not require so much debate. It is a technical subject that is following its course but some want to politicize it." Source: Marc Wolfensberger. "Iran's President, in U.S., Calls Nuclear Issue 'Not Important." Bloomberg. September 19, 2006.

Lets play Cold War tit for tat. In response to the U.S. refusals to grant visas to 15 journalists accompanying Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to New York this week and Interior Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi a U.S. visa last week, Iranian Director General of Foreign Media and Press Mohammad Hossein Khoshvaght threatens, "If this attitude continues and Iranian reporters face restrictions for visiting this country, the ministry will put on its agenda some necessary measures like rejecting visa applications or cancelling the license of those (US) media active in Iran." Source: n.a. "Iran Warns Could Hit Back After Journalists Barred from US." Agence France Presse and Khaleej Times. September 19, 2006.

Bolton commands Larijani's presence in New York; Larijani goes to Damascus instead. U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton commented on Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani's absence from New York: "The discussions with Iran appear to have come to a stop--in the sense that Mr. Larijani, whom we expected in New York, is not here." Source: n.a. "Iran Negotiator's Absence Raises Doubts About Talks." The Washington Post and Reuters. September 18, 2006. Ali Larijani was instead in Damascus for talks with the Syrians. Source: n.a. "Iran Nuclear: Larijani Travels to Syria." AKI. September 20, 2006.

French President Jacques Chirac said further negotiations with Iran should be pursued because U.N. sanctions had never performed well. Source: n.a. Reuters.UK. September 18, 2006.

Kenneth Katzman, senior Middle East expert with the U.S. Congressional Research Service, was unable to attend a security confertence in Tehran because his visa was rescinded at the last minute. Source: n.a. "Congress Researcher Says Barred From Iran." Reuters and Washington Post. September 18, 2006.

Oil rises to $64 a barrel. Bill O'Grady, A.G. Edwards & Sons in St. Louis analyst, commented that, "All of the news from Iran is the most important thing affecting the market...It's a mixed bag with the U.S. talking about sanctions and the Europeans continuing to negotiate. It appears that the U.S. is playing bad cop to the Europeans' good cop." Source: Mark Shenk. "Oil Rises Above $64 on Dispute Over Iran's Nuclear Program." Bloomberg September 18, 2006.

Speaking in Dakar, Senegal, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad states the conflict between Iran and the West can be solved through dialogue, and called for "new conditions" in negotiations. Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and EU "foreign minister" Javier Solana postpone a scheduled meeting. Source: George Jahn. "Iran and European Union Postpone Talks." The Washington Post. September 14, 2006.

Republican pack 'o lies exposed. IAEA nuclear inspectors send a letter to U.S. Representative Peter Hoekstra, the Republican chair of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, decribing his committee's report as containing, "erroneous, misleading and unsubstantiated statements." Source: Dafna Linzer. "U.N. Inspectors Challenge House Nuclear Report on Iran: 'Outrageous and Dishonest' Claims, Officials Complain." San Francisco Chronicle. September 14, 2006. So how will Hoekstra treat the accusation of mendacity?

French Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jean Baptiste Mattei expreses dislike for sanctions: "We generally prefer measures that are decided in the framework of the United Nations, or the European Union...We have never liked unilateral sanctions." French banks have 24% of the value of outstanding loans to Iran. Source: Celestine Bohlen. "France Cool to U.S. Pressure to Cut Bank Ties to Iran (Update1)." Reuters. September 13, 2006.

IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei offers mildly positive assessment of the discussions in Vienna: "I am...encouraged that there is an ongoing dialogue between Iran and the EU and other partners...to create the conditions for the parties to go back into negotiations." Source: Mark Heinrich. "Big Powers Mull Moves After Upbeat Iran-EU Talks." Reuters. September 11, 2006.

World price of oil falls to $66 a barrel. Source: Randi Fabi. "Oil Falls Below $66 on OPEC, Iran." Reuters. September 11, 2006. (The price drop is even being reflected at the pump in the U.S., where it seems "someone" wants the Republicans not to lose too many seats in Congress!)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov comments that Russia was considering sanctions: "We will consider this from all points of view, in totality, based on our goal of not allowing the spread of WMD [weapons of mass destruction] and technology that is linked with this." Source: n.a. "Iran-EU Nuclear Talks Postponed." BBC News. September 6, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inadvertently demonstrates the fallacy of the excluded middle when he tells a meeting on the Hidden Imam: "Those who do not respond to the invitation (to follow God's will), as we said, will have no good fate...We requested a face-to-face debate (with Bush) to assess the problems of the world...We will let humanity choose between us." Source: Parisa Hefezi. "Iran President Urges West to Follow God's Path." Reuters. September 6, 2006.

Vali Nasr, author of The Shia Revival, comments that the U.S. invasion of Iraq and removal of Saddam Hussein made Iran stronger. He characterizes Iranian nuclear ambitions in terms of its strategic goals: "There are big things that Tehran wants and there are little things that Tehran wants. Iran wants to be recognised as a great power in the region. It wants to be like India is in South Asia. They basically want their position to be accepted and acknowledged. And the nuclear issue is part of that." Source: Adla Massoud. "'Removing Saddam Strengthened Iran'". "Aljazeera. September 5, 2006. Text of Interview

Speaking to the Islamic Society of North America former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami complains: "Media Islam is the result of a one-sided understanding of Islam that is represented to us in a solitary, cliched and vicious way....The political version of Islam that is displayed is merely an imaginary version of Islam. What has been stated is a dark and false perception of Islam and the East." Source: Iam Brimacombe. "Iran Khatami's Condemns U.S. Policy." BBC News September 3, 2006. Article Text Golly Khatami, could that be true of the portrayal of non-Islamic religions and atheism in Iranian media?

Iran has a long way to go to catch up with Israel as a merchant of death. Iranian Defense Minister General Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar brags that Iran is currently exporting military equipment to 57 countries in the world. Source: n.a. " 'Iran Exports Military Equipment to 57 Countries'". IranMania. September 3, 2006.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hamid Reza Asefi dismisses talk of sanctions: ""I think the issue of sanctions is more like a psychological game...Right now we should think about solving the issues through negotiations. I think the matter of sanctions was only brought up by some Zionist American circles to exert pressure." Source: n.a. "Iran Says Sanctions Threat is Psychological Game." Reuters. September 3, 2006.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan meets with Iranian leaders urging them to curtail weapons shipments to Hezbollah and compromise in its nuclear confrontation with the West. Source: n.a. "Annan Pushes Iran to Compromise on Nukes." NPR. September 2, 2006. (He will not be meeting with American leaders urging them to curtail weapons shipments to Israel or to compromise with the rest of the world on ballistic missile defense, although that would be consistent with his proper role.)

European Union "foreign minister" Javier Solana described a forthcoming meeting with Iranian chief negotiator Ali Larijani in vaguely positive diplomatic language: "If the meeting goes well and Iran accepts the philosophy of the cooperation project we presented to it in June, I think we will be able to start a more formal negotiation." Source: Ingrid Melander. "EU Gives Iran Two More Weeks in Atomic Standoff." Reuters. September 2, 2006.

Leading German Social-Democrats (SPD) including Martin Schulz expressed opposition to imposing UN sanctions against Iran. Source: n.a. "Top German Ruling Party Officials Oppose Likely Iran Sanctions." Islamic Republic News Agency. September 2, 2006. (All those decades of being the designated initial battleground for a Third World War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union tend to steel one's nerve or at least inure one to the reality of a world in which many of the ideologically minded possess nuclear weapons.)

Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold notes that the U.S. invasion of Iraq gave the Iranian government the chance to develop nuclear weapons. Source: Lisa Rossi. "Feingold: War in Iraq gave Iran Opportunity" The Democratic Senator Blames the Administration and Says the U.S. is Weaker Militarily and Diplomatically." The Des Moines Register. September 1, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad taunts U.S. George W. Bush for refusing his invitation to a televised debate: "We asked them to attend a televised debate, but they escaped. Why do you panic? We want the world public opinion to judge us. Do you think that the world nations are unwise?" (If George W. Bush wasn't such an intellectual underachiever perhaps the U.S. would be in a stronger position internationally.)

U.S. President George W. Bush asumes political posture at American Legion Convention in Salt Lake City (talk about a safe venue): "It is time for Iran to make a choice," Bush said at a convention of the American Legion U.S. veterans group. "We've made our choice. We will continue to work closely with our allies to find a diplomatic solution, but there must be consequences for Iran's defiance and we must not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon." Source: n.a. "Bush: Iran Must Faces Consequences for Defiance." Reuters. August 31, 2006. Full Text of Speech

Demonstrating the conservative talent for making illogical categorical errors, The Conservative Voice columnist Scott Sullivan asks an impressively silly question: "Is Ahmadinejad a Fascist or a Nazi?" Text of Column. Why not ask whether Seabiscuit was a pig or a Berkshire hog? Sullivan's assertion that, "not all fascists are the enemy of democracy" reveals something very creepy about the politics of many American conservatives.

U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson responds to an article in The Washington Times that the Pentagon assumes Iran is 5 to 8 years from having a nuclear weapon by saying that it never comments on contingency planning. Source: n.a. "Pentagon Sees Iran With Bomb in 5 Years- Report." Reuters. August 30, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad challenges U.S. President George W. Bush to a televised debate on world issues. Bush runs away from the opportunity. (Would JFK have refused such a chance? But then JFK was intelligent, well educated and eloquent.) Ahmadinejad also challenges the veto power of the U.S. and Britain on the UN Security Council, an issue that resonates in Japan, India, the Muslim world, Africa and Latin America.

Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani states: "Iran will continue its uranium enrichment. We want to produce our own nuclear fuel...We will never stop it...Those who threaten us with sanctions know perfectly that we have obtained a home-made atomic programme under international sanctions. And it is irreversible." Source: Parisa Hafezi. "Iran to Pursue Atom Work Despite Deadline." Reuters UK. August 27, 2006.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei B. Ivanov states that the issue is not "so urgent” that the UN Security Council should consider sanctions and expressing doubt that they would work in any case: "I know of no cases in international practice or the whole of previous experience when sanctions achieved their goals or were efficient." Source: Steben Lee Myers. "Russia Says Sanctions Are Premature." The New York Times. August 25, 2006. (A better title would have been "Russia Says Sanctions Won't Work")

Congressional neoconservative Republicans demand expressions of official fear to help gin up public support for war against Iran. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee releases report critical of the CIA and other intelligence agencies for what it says are the major gaps in America's knowledge of Iran's nuclear program. Republican Committee members offer tortured logic that the intelligence agencies are "playing down" the threat. Source: Dan Fromkin. "History, Eepeating Itself." Washington Post August 24, 2006. See also Juan Cole's Republican Congressional Report on Iran Riddled With Errors

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy states: "What I know is that the resolution 1696 ... tells Iran it must stop all uranium enrichment by August 31." Source: n.a. "World Needs A Few Days To Study Iran Reply-France." Reuters, South Africa. August 23, 2006.

Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House's Middle East Programme concluding that, "There is little doubt that Iran has been the chief beneficiary of the War on Terror in the Middle East." Philippe Naughton. "Iran Now The Key Power In Iraq, Says UK Think-Tank." The Times of London. August 23, 2006. Article Text

This pretext for war appears to be a damp squib. Iranian government submits detailed written response to the demands made by the Permanent Five Plus Germany denying that it is developing a nuclear weapons program. Source: n.a. "Iran Offers West 'Serious' Talks." BBC News. August 22, 2006.

Time to prime Israeli public opinion more war? Israeli Cabinet member and former spy chief Rafi Eitan states: "We are liable to face an Iranian missile attack. The Iranians have said very clearly that if they come under attack, their primary target would be Israel...therefore we must prepare for what could come, and prepare the entire country for a missile strike attack, to prepare all the civilian systems so they are ready for this." Source: n.a. "Israel Must Be Ready For Any Iranian Attack-Minister." Reuters. August 22, 2006.

U.S. President George W. Bush blamed the failures of his foreign policy on Iran: "Iran is obviously part of the--part of the problem. They sponsor Hezbollah. They encourage a radical brand of Islam. Imagine how difficult this issue would be if Iran had a nuclear weapon." Source: August 21, 2006 Press Conference by the President, The White House Text

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei states that, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has made up its mind based on the experience of the past 27 years to forcefully pursue its nuclear program and other issues it is faced with and will rely on God. Be patient, and hopefully we will taste a sweet outcome." Source: Michael Slackman. "Iran’s Leader Vows to Continue Nuclear Program." The New York Times. August 21, 2006. What but religion could convince a person that anything nuclear was "sweet"?

According to the IAEA, Iranian officials turned away its inspectors from the Natanz facility. Source: George Jahn. "Defiant Iran to Continue Nuclear Activities." Associated Press and Detriot Free Press. August 21, 2006.

In a discussion about the shambles of the second Bush administration's Middle East policy Fareed Zakariah predicts that President George W. Bush wil do nothing more than "huff and puff" about Iranian nuclear proliferation. Source: ABC News: THis Week With George Stephanopoulos. August 20, 2006.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak cautioned against a military attack on Iran: "The conflict between the United States and Iran must be resolved through diplomatic channels and direct dialogue, because any strike on Iran means the end of stability in the region and the world...Iran is an important country in the region, and relations between countries are governed by pacts and treaties and agreements that prohibit interference in any internal matters of the countries." Source: n.a. "Egypt warns against any military strike on Iran." Reuters and Scotsman.com. August 19, 2006.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay stokes war fever denounces Iran for supporting Hezbollah: "They are certainly behind much of the difficulty that's going on in the region by funding Hezbollah, by supporting them in terms of their activities against Israel. They have a great deal of responsibility and blood on their hands from their activities." Source: Mike Blanchfield. "MacKay Says Tehran Has 'Blood on its Hands'." Regina Leader Post. August 19, 2006. Does the U.S. have blood on its hands for supporting Israel?

Open letter from 21 former generals, diplomats and national security officials of the United States argues that the administration's "hard line" in Iran has undermined U.S. security. Included are Army Lt. Gen. Robert G. Gard, Marine Corps Gen. Joseph P. Hoar and Morton H. Halperin. Gard commented that, "It's not a crisis...To call the Iranian situation a 'crisis' connotes you have to do something right now, like bomb them." Source: Peter Speigel. "Group Says Iran Is 'Not a Crisis'." Los Angeles Times. August 16, 2006.

U.S. President George W. Bush made comments lending support to Seymour Hirsh's claims of coordiantion in a war plan aimed at Iran: "The Middle East is at a pivotal moment in history. Millions of people in Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere are equally determined to live in peace and freedom. They have tired of the false promises and grand illusions of radical extremists...The leaders of these armed groups must make a choice: If they want to participate in the political life of their countries, they must disarm. Elected leaders cannot have one foot in the camp of democracy and one foot in the camp of terror." Source: Julie Mason and Michael Hedges. "Bush Says Hezbollah Defeat is 'Pivotal': President Links War in Lebanon to the War on Terror." Houston CDhronicle. August 14, 2006. Is the neocon strategy to saddle the next administration, Democrat or Republican, with the war that Bush provokes against Iran?

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hamid Reza Asefi states that: "Iran will not yield to the language of threat and pressure. If they continue to pressure us, we will review our policy." Source: n.a. "Iran Insists on Nuclear Policy Change If Pressured." Reuters South Africa. August 13, 2006.

Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel threatens that: "If Iran’s membership in international organisations including the International Atomic Energy Agency means that we will be deprived of our inalienable rights then we will have no reason to continue our membership in these organisations." Source: n.a. "Iran Threatens To Pull Out Of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty." Iran Focus. Augsut 13, 2006.

Seymour Hersh accuses the second Bush adminitration of preplanning the Israeli-Lebanese War with the Israeli government as a trial run for a larger war against Iran: "Let Israel attack Hezbollah, we'll watch and see how it works, learn from it, and if we do decide to go to Iran, we can't go to Iran anyway as long as Hezbollah has rockets." Source: "Report: The U.S. Pushed Israeli Plan New Yorker's Hersh Reports U.S. Encouraged Israel's Strikes As Prelude To Iran." CBS Evening News August 13, 2006. Transcript

Iranian ambassador to Russia Gholamreza Ansari stated that his country does not, "recognize the demand that we suspend uranium enrichment in view of absence of violations." Source: n.a. "Iran Will Continue Nuclear Work "To The Maximum Scope:" Ambassador." China View. Augsut 10, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad articulates anti-imperialist grievance interview with CBS: "See how they talk down to my nation. ... They want to build an empire. ... The American government, sir, it is very clear to me they have to change their behavior and everything will be resolved." Source: n.a. "Iranian President Chides Bush in CBS Interview." Reuters. August 9, 2006.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki reminds the international community of U.S.-Iranian political history: "At the time of the former Iranian regime (the Pahlavi Dynasty), the United States encouraged the King to find access to the uranium enrichment cycle and build nuclear power plants in Iran, but today it is acting in violation of all the international rules and regulations, including the rules of the NPT....One such attitude could be seen very clearly in the way the United States acted with regard to the recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution against Iran, they acted restlessly to reach a resolution against us before we could present our response to the six-nation package." Source: n.a. "Iran Accuses U.S. of Violating NPT on Nuke Issue." Xinhua. August 11, 2006.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack states that, "There have been a variety of public statements from the Iranians, but we haven't seen any evidence yet that they are complying with the demand and requirement of the international community." Source: Barry Schweid. "U.S.: No Sign Iran Will Comply With U.N." Washington Post August 8, 2006. By "international community, McCormack may mean the UN Security Council, a 15 member with only 1 predominantly Islamic country or perhaps he means the UN Security Council "Permanent Five" members with Vetoes, none of which is a predominantly Islamic country. Not much of a "community" really.

Western bluff is called, again. Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani states at a news conference that, "We will expand nuclear technology at whatever stage it may be necessary and all of Iran's nuclear technology including the cascades will be expanded...We do not want to end the supervision of the agency (IAEA), but you should not do anything to force Iran to do so....If they do, we will react in a way that would be painful for them....Do not force us to do something that will make people shiver in the cold....They should not think that they can hurt us and we would stand still without a reaction." Sources: Simon Tisdall. "Iran Threatens to Use 'Oil Weapon' in Nuclear Standof." Guardian Unlimited Augsut 7, 2006; n.a. "Iran Vows More Atom Work, To Hit Back At Sanctions." Reuters. August 6, 2006,

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Chair of the Iranian Guardian Council, joined conservative critics in the United States in expressing contempt for the United Nations although for parallel rather than the same reasons: "They must close down this United Nations and its Security Council, what kind of a Security Council is this? The United Nations and the Security Concil are so weak, so incapable and so influenced by major powers that they cannot even issue a resolution. But when it comes to Iran and trampling on Iran's right to use nuclear energy, they quickly issue a resolution." Source: n.a. "Iran Cleric: Shut Down Two-Faced Security Council." Reuters. August 4, 2006.

Second Bush administration continues to flail around in foreign policy. Sanctions are imposed on 7 firms for doing business with Iran in sensitive technology, including two Russian firms state owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Russian fighter jet manufacturer Sukhoi, Indian chemical manufacturers Balaji Amines Ltd. and Prachi Poly Products Ltd., North Korean firms Korean Mining and Industrial Development Corp. and Korea Pugang Trading Corp., and the Cuban firm Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. Source: George Gedda. "U.S. Sanctions Companies Over Iran." Associated Press and Forbes. August 4, 2006. As usual the administration satisfies itself and its constituenceis with the appearance of being tough rather than taking effective action.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson urges Iran to comply with the U.N. resolution on uranium enrichment: "As for the nature of the UN Security Council’s resolutions, it should be born in mind that under article 25 of the UN Charter all members of the organization agree to abide by Security Council resolutions and implement them....We are hoping that the Iranian side will respond properly to the calls addressed to it and no extra action by the UN Security Council will be required." Source: n.a. "Russia Urges Iran to Meet Nuclear Deadline." Mosnews.com. August 3, 2006.

Green Nightmare: Recognizing a "Right" to Develop Nuclear Power As Payoff for Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation. Speaking at the "Iran-Europe Ties" debate at Tehran's Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council, former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said, "No country denies Iran's right" (to use nuclear power) with confidence building measures (a.k.a. nuclear safeguards) and that, "If such confidence-building is realized, great advantages either in terms of peaceful use of nuclear energy or in other political and economic domains would be provided for Iran. Source: n.a. "Fischer Says Compromise and Respect Can Defuse Iran Crisis." Deutche Welle. text August 3, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tells rally in beautiful Bojnurd that Iran will maintain its right to produce nuclear fuel despite a UN Security Council resolution: "Iran considers developing peaceful nuclear fuel cycle technology as its right and will maintain the inalienable right....If some people think they can talk to us with a language of force and threats, they are making a bad mistake." Source: n.a. "Iran Maintains Right to Produce Nuclear Fuel: President." People's Daily Online. August 2, 2006.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warns of an impending Muslim jihad against the West: "The aggressive actions and nature of the U.S. and Israel will revive the spirit of resistance in the Islamic world and will make the value of jihad more prevalent for it...Islamic Iran believes resistance against American bullying and aggression and mischief by Israel to be its duty and will stand alongside all oppressed nations, especially the dear people of Lebanon and the combatant Palestinian nation." Source: n.a. "Iran’s Supreme Leader Warns U.S. of Impending Jihad." August 2, 2006. Translation: Iran is willing to fight to the last Lebanese and Palestinian.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao urged calm and further negotiations: "We hope that the Security Council resolution helps the on-going diplomatic efforts...We call on all sides to remain calm and exercise restraint and keep pushing for the early resumption of talks." Source: n.a. "China Calls for Restraint on Iran Nuclear Issue." Boston Globe and Reuters. August 1, 2006.

UN Security Council votes 14 to 1 to pass weak resolution requiring Iran to suspend uranium enrichment by August 31, or more discussions are threatened. The lone 'no' vote was from Qatar, the lone predominantly Islamic state now on the body. Although there are 1 billion Muslims on the planet--one-sixth of the total-Islamic states had only one-fifteenth of the voting power on the body. Source: n.a. "U.N. Gives Iran Until the End of August." Washington Post. July 31, 2006.

Akbar Mohammadi, an Iranian dissident serving a 15 year sentence for organizing protests in 1999 died in Evin Prison after a long hunger strike. n.a. "Student Dies After Hunger Strike in Iran Prison." Iran Focus News. July 31, 2006. His heroic sacrifice is ignored in U.S. television news so that extensive coverage may be given to Mel Gibson's drunken rantings during his arrest.

Threat that sanctions will be "discussed." The permanent 5 at the UN Security Council reached agreement on a draft resolution demanding that Iran suspend nuclear enrichment by Aug. 31 or face the threat of sanctions being discussed. Source: Evelyn Leopold. "UN Council Agrees on Resolution for Iran Demands Aug. 31 Nuclear Deadline." Chicago Tribune and Reuters. July 29, 2006. (Seems John Bolton's hatched chicken (see July 25, 2006) is a peeley-wally wee fowl.)

Veneuelan President Hugo Chavez arrives in Tehran on his 52nd birthday to receive a medal and some invesment capital from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Venezuelan voice on the International Atomic Energy Agency has backed Iran's "right" to enrich uranium. Source: Christian Oliver. "Iran Medal, Oil Deals for Birthday Visitor Chavez." Washington Post and Reuters. July 28, 2006.

Q: Why did the neo-conservative count his chickens before they were hatched? A: Because the second Bush administration desperately needs some good news from the Middle East. U.S. Ambassador the UN John Bolton said that the big six were close to agreement on the etxt of a resolution about Iran: "We made a lot of progress today. This was probably the most productive session. This bring us very close." He also said that under the draft resolution being considered, "Iran is bound mandatorily to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities." Source: Evelyn Leopold. "UN Negotiators Close to Deal on Iran Nuclear Draft." Washington Post July 25, 2006.

Iranian government spokesperson Gholam-Hossein Elham states that Iran will use "all legal and diplomatic ways" to oppose the Israeli attack on lebanon rather than send military forces. Source: n.a. "Iran Not to Send Troops to Join Conflict in Lebanon: Spokesman." People's Daily Online. July 25, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proposes ethnic cleansing, urges Israeli evacuation of the Middle East: "I suggest that they (Israelis) bale and move out of Mideast before the fire they have launched in Lebanon catches them...Israel has pushed the button of its own destruction by attacking Lebanon...Israel and its allies must apologize for their policies, or the people in the region will respond." n.a. "Iranian President Urges Israel to Move Out of Mideast." People's Daily Online. July 23, 2006. (And what does this religious fanatic have in mind for the Lebanese Maronites, Egyptian Coptic Orthodox and Armenians?)

Former Iranian President and Chair of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani denounces the United Nations Security Council: "On our nuclear issue, we are now witnessing a cruel act...They are going to commit another historic act of tyranny against Iran, despite Iran announcing several times that it is ready to negotiate...If Iran accepts, that would mean putting our hands up and surrendering." Source: n.a. "Iran Cleric Accuses UN of Tyranny." Reuters, July 21, 2006.

Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani states that, "Based on law, Iran has planned to produce 20,000 MW of nuclear electricity in the next 20 years and needs to produce nuclear fuel inside the country for those reactors." Source: Parisa Hafizi. "Iran Sticks by Nuclear Plans Despite U.N. Pressure." Reuters. July 20, 2006. The second Bush administration is similarly enthusiastic about producing electricity from new nuclear power plants.

Iranian government announced that it would reply to the UN incentive package on August 22, 2006 but indicated that it would not accept any deal that undermines its nuclear program. Source: Ali Akbar Dareini. "Iran Promises Aug. 22 Reply to Nuke Plan." Associated Press and Washington Post. July 20, 2006.

Accusations traded. U.S. accused Iran of sending obervers to the North Korean missile tests and Iran accused the U.S. of obstructing negotiations about its nuclear prgram. Source: n.a. "US Accuses Iran Over North Korean Missile Tests." Reuters. July 20, 2006.

Israeli attack on Lebanon continues to divert focus from Iranian nuclear proliferation issue. Iranian Majlis Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel warns Israeli government that, "The towns you have built in northern Palestine (Israel) are within the range of the brave Lebanese children. No part of Israel will be safe." Source: n.a. "No part of Israel is Safe, Iranian Lawmaker Says Despite Comments, Tehran Denies Behind-the-Scenes Role in Fighting," Associated Press and Newsweek. July 18, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking on state television dismisses decision to refer Iranian nuclear proliferation to the UN Security Council: "The people of Iran will not give up their right of exploiting peaceful nuclear technology. They are not intimated by the arrogant uproar and propaganda today." Source: n.a. "Iran Shrugs Off Threat." The Hindu. July 14, 2006.

U.S. President George W. Bush reveals what he fears while in Germany: "I truly think they're trying to wait us out, that it's only a matter of time before people lose their nerve. And I think they are going to be sorely mistaken....The Iranians must understand that they can't wait us out and can't hope to split a coalition - and so the first step is to go to the United Nations and speak with as common a voice as possible." Source: n.a. "Bush Seeks Diplomacy Move on Iran." BBC News. July 13, 2006. Has any post-WWII U.S. President ever been so out of his depth in foreign affairs?

Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani commands patience. ""We have discussed a wide range of important issues together, consultations will now be done by both sides. We will be in contact together in order to see how to proceed. We have to go into a long process, we must be patient." Source: Slobodan Lekic. "Iran Dashes Hope for Breakthrough." The Washington Post. July 11, 2006.

Truth never constrains a neo-conservative. Neo-con U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton claims that North Korean missile tests do not distract the U.S. and its allies from Iranian nuclear proliferation: "I don't agree that one issue distracts from the other. I think we are very focused on both of them and fully capable of dealing with both of them." Source: George Jahn. "Iran's Nuclear Threat Still On the Table." The Seattle Times. July 10, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad condemns Israel for its incursion into Gaza and for being illegitimate: "They should not let things reach a point where an explosion occurs in the Islamic world. If an explosion occurs, then it won't be limited to geographical boundaries. It will also burn all those who created (Israel) over the past 60 years.....This is a fake regime ... it won't be able to survive. I think the only way (forward) is that those who created it (the West) take it away themselves." Source: Ali Akbar Dareini. "Iran President Criticizes Israeli Offensive." Associated Press and Forbes. July 7, 2006.

U.S. President George W. Bush struggles to appear cowboy tough while counseling patience in answering foreign policy questions about North Korea, saying, "And its just--whether it be the Iranian issue or the the North Korean issue, there is a way forward for these leaders that will lead to a better life for their people and acceptance into the international community."

North Korea conducts multiple ballistic missile tests but elicits only condemnation from the second Bush administration. North Korea is not deemed much of a "threat" to U.S. national interests by the second Bush administration because it lacks large oil deposits and is not a threat to Israeli security.

Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki politiely but firmly declines demand that his government respond to the profered package of incentives by July 5: "Different committees are considering different segments of this proposed package." They supposedly seek to deal the "questions and ambiguities" in the package. Mottaki reiterates that the Iranian response will come in August, either in early or mid-month. Source: Helene Cooper. "G-8 Leaders Set Deadline for Iranian Response." The New York Times. June 29, 2006.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei states does not need negotiations with the U.S. over its nuclear program. Source: n.a. Leader: Talks With U.S. Not Necessary. Chicago Tribune. June 28, 2006.

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett warns about the risk of being embroiled in negotiations about negotiations: "What I think there would be some concern about ... if we appeared that we were entering into a period of negotiation about negotiations." Source: n.a. "EU-Iran Nuclear Meeting Postponed Until After G8." Reuters. June 28, 2006.

(Don't try to rush us!) Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hamid Reza Asefi comments that, "The package contains legal, political and economic dimensions. All its dimensions have to be studied." (Or we will mess with the oil markets by issuing threats!) Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh warns again that his country could disrupt the world's oil supply if the standoff leads to open conflict. Source: n.a. "Tehran on Nukes: Be Patient." Chicago Tribune. June 26, 2006.

Gen. George W. Casey accuses the Iranian government of covert support of Shi'a "extremist groups" and predicted partial withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year. Source: Michael R. Gordon. "Iran Aiding Shiite Atacks Inside Iraq, General Says." The New York Times. June 23, 2006.

Folksy threat issued by U.S. President George W. Bush, who comments that, "It seems like an awful long time," to respond to a "reasonable proposal." This is met with a frostily pious response from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who syas this his country will "review the proposals on the basis of our legitimate right and, God willing, we will give our opinion regarding the proposals toward the end of Mordad," (or the Iranian month ending on August 22). Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki joins in by saying that Bush "should not be in a hurry" for a response. Source: n.a. "Bush: 2 Months Is Too Long For Iran's Answer." Fre Press News Service. June 22, 2006.

Trying to cover how much his government conceded, a posturing U.S. Pres. George W. Bush says, "We've given the Iranians a limited period of time--you know, weeks not months--to digest a proposal to move forward. And if they choose not to verifiably suspend their program, then there will be action taken in the U.N. Security Council." Source: n.a. "Bush Says Iran Has "Weeks Not Months" To Respond." Reuters. June 9, 2006. Or WHAT George? Going to subject them to another annoying public search for ordinary words?

Iranian senior cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati states, "The package they have presented is a package (that is) good for them. It's not good for Iran." Source: Ali Akbar Dareini. "Cleric Urges Iran to Reject Nuclear Deal." Associated Press. June 9, 2006. Could it be that Shi'a clergy have begun to worship all things nuclear as idols?

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad states in televised speech that, "If they (the international community) think they can threaten and hang a stick over the head of the Iranian nation and negotiate at the same time, they should know the Iranian nation will reject such an atmosphere." Source: Edmund Blair. "Iran Says Threats Will Not Work In Nuclear Talks." Reuters. June 8, 2006.

Weak position of the Six Powers is exposed. World learns that the package of ince ntives would require Iranian government to suspend uranium enrichment only during negotiations and that it might resume afterward. George Jahn. "Diplomats: Package Gives Iran Some Leeway." Associated Press. June 7, 2006.

World learns that the package of incentives for Iran includes light water reactor technology and aircraft spare parts from U.S. vendors. Source: Allison Linn. "Aircraft Help Reportedly An Iran Incentive." Seattle Post Intelligencer. June 6, 2006.

After speaking to a very safe audience at the Border Patrol Academy U.S. Pres. George W. Bush comments on the Iranian response: "Sounds like a positive response to me." Bush then gabbles about immigration reform and at one point mistakenly describes undocumented immigrants as "citizens." Source: Transcript: "President's Remarks to the Travel Pool at Laredo Border Patrol Sector Headquarters," Laredo Border Patrol Sector Headquarters, Laredo, Texas. The White House. Text

Price of oil increases to $73 a barrel in apparent anxiety about disruption of oil supplies in the event of war in the Persian Gulf. Source: Peg Mackey. "Oil at $73, Iran Warns of Gulf Supply Disruption." Reuters. June 5, 2006.

A frustrated U.S. Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld criticises the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation for considering the membership of Iran, which he described as, "the leading terrorist nation in the world." Source: n.a. "Rumsfeld Changes Tone." Financial Times. June 5, 2006.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei clarifies his regime's positions on the use of nuclear weapons and who has whom by the energy supply: "We have not threatened any neighbor... accusation that we are seeking nuclear bomb is wrong, a sheer lie." "We have no target to use a nuclear bomb. It's against Islamic teachings." "If you make any mistake [invade Iran], definitely shipment of energy from this region will be seriously jeopardized. You have to know this." "You will never be able to protect energy supply in this region. You will not be able to do it." Source: n.a. "Iran: We Will Not Cease Enrichment: Iran's Top Leader Warns Of Energy Disruption If U.S. Attacks." CBS News. June 4, 2006.

Russia rules out military froce against Iran. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov states that, "Tehran will not face a deadline to respond to the six nation proposal." He emphasized that the package does not include the use of a military force. Source: Suleyman Kurt. "Ankara Steps in for Iran." Zaman Daily Online. June 3, 2006.

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes U.S. offer of direct talks with Iran: "This is a very important step, which gives the whole process a new dimension. It is necessary to conduct a thorough discussion with the Iranian leadership." Alissa J. Rubin. "Iran Says Pressure Won't 'Bear Fruit'". Los Angeles Times and Bioston Glode. June 3, 2006.

Six Powers (U.S., Britain, France, Gemany, Russia, China) reach agrrement on package of incentives, but not sanctions. The imediate quid pro quo is that Iran suspends uranium enrichment in return for suspension of action in the Security Council. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett states that if Iran failed to comply, "further steps would have to be taken in the Security Council." Source: Thom Shanker & Elaine Sciolino. "Package of Terms (No Sanctions Included) for Iran." The New York Times. June 2, 2006.

Deputy chief of the Iranian Supreme Security Council Javad Vaedidi comments that the wording (of the U.S. proposal for direct negotiations) unfortunately shows still the (second) Bush administration does not want to convince us that they are ready to consider our rights and interests. The content is based on the domestic affairs of the United States." Source: Michael Slackman. "Iranians Dismiss U.S. Terms For beginning Direct Talks." The New York Times. June 2, 2006.

Iran ready to reap the crop the U.S. has sown in Iraq! Expediency Council Chair Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani tells students, "Iran is ready to transfer its constructive experiences to Iraq to remove war destructions in the country." Source: n.a. "Iran ready to transfer its experiences to Iraq." Iran Mania. June 1, 2006.

FLIP-FLOP! Second Bush administration foreign policy becomes even less coherent as a visibly tense U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announces on television that the U.S. is wiling to negotiate directly with Iran if it agrees to a verified suspension of uranium enrichment: "The Iranian people believe they have a right to civil nuclear energy. We acknowledge that right." Glenn Kessler. "Analysis: Shift in U.S. Stance Shows Power of Seven-Letter Word." Washington Post. June 1, 2006.

Strategic judgment. Speaking in Malaysia Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki comments that the U.S. won't take military action against Iranian nuclear sites because, "of a lot of difficulties in Iraq and Palestine. They are not in a position to create a new crisis in the region." Source: n.a. "Iran Offers EU New Nuclear Talks." BBC News. May 29, 2006.

Don't bet the farm. Commodity strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd. David Thurtell predicts that, "Iran is going to fold on this. They're just going to stick it out and extract as big a concession as they can. The U.S. is going to have to make some concessions as well." Source: n.a. "Oil Futures Trades Above $71 as UN Studies Iran Atomic Program." BloombergPrediction. May 29, 2006. But what if Iranian leaders are't rational value maximizers with short time horizons like Mr. Thurtell? What if they really are the fanatical Islamic fundamentalists that they appear?

Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin speaks through his Security Council Chief Igor Ivanov commenting that, "Unlike the U.S., Russia believes Iran's nuclear program needs to be resolved only through dialogue. Any use of force will further complicate the issue and will cause tension in the region." n.a. "Russia: No Use Of Force Against Iran: Russia Opposes Any Use Of Force Against Iran Over Its Nuclear Program." CBS News & Associated Press. May 28, 2006.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said "In our view the Islamic Republic has the right to have nuclear technology as long as it is for peaceful means." Source: n.a. "Iraq Says It Backs Iran's Right to Nuclear Program (Update4)." BloombergText.

Six powers meeting in New York decide to meet again the following week. U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns comments tha the he is "very pleased" with the "very productive, very constructive" negotiations. Britain's U.N. Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry states that, "They're moving closer to an agreement on the content of the package." Source: Edith M. Lederer. "6 Key Nations to Meet Next Week on Iran." Washignton Post and Associated Press. May 25, 2006.

Iran has a new friend in the region. Pakistani Pres. Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Iranian Vice President Pervez Dawoodi agrre to complete an IPI gas pipeline. n.a. "Pakistan, Iran Not To Yield To External Pressure On IPI Gas Pipeline." Xinhua. May 25, 2006.

Speaking to a joint session of the U.S. House and Senate, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert states: "If we don't take Iran's bellicose rhetoric seriously now, we will be forced to take its nuclear agressions seriously later. The international community will be judged by its ability to convince nations and peoples to turn their backs on hatred and zealotry." Source: n.a. "Olmert Warns Of Nuclear Iran." Aljajeera. May 24, 2006. So nuclear armed Israel that in the past has dispossesed the Palestinians, invaded Lebanon etc. has never exhibited "hatred and zealotry." Good to know!

British Foreign Ministry spokesperson John Sawyer describes six power talks in London in upbeat but suspiciously repetitive language: "constructive and valuable discussions," "made some good progress," and "a good day's work." Source: n.a. "Meeting Yields 'Good Progress' On Iran Conference Of Six World Powers Is Constructive, But No Decision Reached," CBS News. May 24, 2006.

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is not optimistic about the meeting on Iran: "It will be a key meeting today but I suspect it won't be the final meeting." Source: n.a. "World Powers Seek Iran Consensus." CNN and Reuters. May 24, 2006.

U.S. tightens the financial sanctions screw by compelling UBS and Credit Suisse of Switzerland, ABN Amro of the Netherlands, and HSBC of Britain to restrict their banking operations with Iran. On NBC's Meet the Press U.S. Secretary of State Condolleeza Rice aserts that Iran, "cannot really not stand the kind of international isolation that could be brought upon it if [its leaders] don't find a way to change course." Source: David Willman. "Rice Says All Options On Table With Iran Report: Banks Curbing Dealings." Boston Glode and The New York Times. May 22, 2006. Who could argue with this policy? Just consider how well U.S. efforts to isolate Iran have worked in the past!

Although the U.S. State Department rejects direct negotiations about uranium enrichment, U.S. Ambassadorto/Viceroy of Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad wants "talks" with Iran about Iraq. Source: John Daniszewski. "U.S. Envoy Wants talks With Iran." ABC News International. May 21, 2006. Neo-cons no more need to be consistent than they need to tell the truth.

Iranian MP and Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee spokesperson Kazem Jalali stated that, "As representatives of the nation, we can hold talks with some members of the US Congress in order to exchange our opinions. Unfortunately, it seems that the atmosphere prevailing over the White House is largely not in favor of dialogue as a logical, positive and constructive approach...If they had the logic of dialogue they would have answered President Ahmadinejad’s letter." Source: n.a. "MP Proposes Talks Between Iran, US Lawmakers." IranMania. May 21, 2006.

Letter from Congressional Democrats to Bush: Harry M. Reid, Senate minority leader; Richard J. Durbin, assistant minority leader; John D. Rockefeller IV, vice chairman of the intelligence committee; Carl M. Levin, senior Democrat on the Armed Services Committee; and Joseph R. Biden Jr., senior Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee warn Bush not to repeat the mistakes of the Iraq War, "We must have objective intelligence untainted by political considerations or policy preferences and a comprehensive debate in the Congress about the best short and long-term approaches to resolving the international community's differences with Iran." Source: n.a. "Intelligence Update On Iran Is Requested: Senate Democrats Write President." The Washington Post and Associated Press. May 20, 2006.

Black Propaganda/Misinformation? Commenting on a news report that the Iranian Majlis had adopted a law requiring non-Muslims to wear colored badges in public, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said: "It obviously echoes the most horrible period of genocide in the world's history and the marking of Jewish people with a mark on their clothing by the Nazis, and anything of that kind, would be totally repugnant to civilised countries." Source: n.a. "Howard Compares Iran to Nazi Germany." The Sydney Morning Herald. May 20, 2006. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that he couldn't vouch for the accuracy of the newspaper report, but he added that Iran was "capable" of such actions and quickly compared them to repression in Nazi Germany. Iranian sources, including Jewish Iranian MP Morris Motamed dismissed the claim. Source: Alexander Panetta. "Harper Says Iran 'Capable' of Introducing Nazi-like Clothing Labels." Canadian Press. May 19, 2006. Canadian industry is also capable of making cloth labels but that does not mean its government requires them to be worn.

News report in The New York Times complains that the Iranian government is increasingly secretive about its nuclear fuel/weapons production facilities. Source: William J. Broad & Elaine Sciolino. "Iran Pulls Curtain On Atom Sites." The New York Times. May 19, 2006. The article does not mention the "normal" secrecy at U.S., British, French, Russian, Chinese, Israeli, Indian or Pakistani nuclear weapons facilities. Do as we say, not as we do.

While in Tokyo, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has cooking in mind when urges caution by saying that there is, "a need to lower the temperature and refrain from actions and rhetoric that could further inflame the situation." Source: n.a. "Annan Warning Over Iran 'Crisis'." Guardian Unlimited. May 18, 2006.

Candy for gold. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismises quid pro quo of halting uranium enrichment for EU economic incentives, saying that Iran was being offered "candy for gold". Christian Oliver. "Iran Scorns EU Atomic Incentives." Swissinfo and Reuters. May 17, 2006. His full statement was: "Do you think you are dealing with a 4-year-old child to whom you can give some walnuts and chocolates and get gold in return?" Source: Karl Vick. "Iran Defies Offer From Europeans: Anti-Nuclear Incentives Called Laughable." San Jose Mercury News. May 18, 2006.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov states that, ""We cannot isolate Iran or exert pressure on it. Far from resolving this issue of proliferation, it will make it more urgent. Russia and China will not vote for the use of force in resolving this issue." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao states that, "We believe that at the current stage relevant parties should make active gestures to launch a new round of diplomacy." Source: Charles Hutzler. "Russia, China: Don't Use Force in Iran." Associated Press. May 16, 2006. Liu Jinchao states expresses hope that the European Union improves its plan by taking into account "the reasonable concerns of Iran." Source: Dan Belefsky & John O'Neil. "China Supports Europe's Incentives Plan for Iran." The New York Times. May 16, 2006.

Senior Venezuelan government official Gen. Alberto Muller states that his government is considering, "the feasibility of a negotiation with Iran for the sale of those planes (F-16s)." Source: n.a. "Venezuela Eyes Selling F-16s to Iran: Possibility Raised Day After U.S. Banned Weapons Sales." Newsweek and Associated Press. May 16, 2006.

High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union Javier Solana describes incentives for Iranian cooperation: "It will be a generous package, a bold package that will contain issues related to nuclear, economic matters and maybe if necessary security matters." Source: n.a. "EU promises "generous, bold" Iran nuclear offer." Reuters. May 15, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejects, "Any proposal that obliges us to stop peaceful (nuclear) activities would not have value and would not be valid." Source: Parinoosh Arami. "Iran Won't Accept Offer on Halting Atomic Work." The Washington Post & Reuters. May 14, 2006.

IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei states that Iran poses "no imminent threat" and that he is pleased that the Britain, France and Germany were trying to use economic benefits rather than economci sanctions in negotaiting with Iran. Source: Fia Curley. "IAEA Head Welcomes Iran Resolution Delay." ABC News. May 11, 2006. Good cop/bad cop. Maybe they have never seen that before in Iran?

Sounding somewhat conciliatory in a speech to the pro-Israeli Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns states that it is important to "raise the cost" to Iran this year it moves toward further urabium enrichment. Source: Carol Giacomo "U.S. Stands Tough On Iran's Nuclear Programme." Swissinfo. May 12, 2006.

During live interview with Indonesia's Metro television Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad states that his government is ready to negotiate with anybody. Later at a rally for students he states that Israel is, "a regime based on evil that cannot continue and one day will vanish." Source: n.a. "Iran President Says Ready For Dialogue, Brands Israel 'Evil Regime'". Haaretz. May 11, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad descibes international (read American, British, French and German) anxiety about his government's uranium enrichment as a "Big Lie" in a press conference hel after meetings with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia. Source: Chrius Brumitt. "Iran: Worry Over Nuke Program 'A Big Lie'." The Washington Post. May 10, 2006.

Maybe you should start the war after I leave office. Outgoing Israeli National Security Council Director Giora Eiland states that, "We do believe that a political solution to the problem is still achievable although time is running out. The relevant time terms can be measured in months. I don't think that any military option should be discussed right now." Source: Stevin Gutkin. "Israeli Official: Time Running Out On Iran." San Jose Mercury News May 10, 2006.

In response to a question about the U.S. response to his 18 page personal letter to U.S. President George W. Bush, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad states that, "We will wait to see the reaction of the recipient and we will act based on the reaction." Source: n.a. "Iran President Says Awaits Reaction To US Letter." The Washington Post." May 9, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sends 18 page personal letter to U.S. President George W. Bush via the Swiss Embassy in Tehran proposing "new solutions" to international problems. This is the first direct communication between the two states in 27 years. Source: Parisa Hafezi. "Iran President Will Send Letter To Bush: Spokesman." Reuters. May 8, 2006. With this gambit Tehran steals a march on Washington by appearing as the peacemaker.

A very basic form of communication reveals the basic failure to communicate. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice responds that the Iranian President has addressed the wrong issues: "This letter is not the place that one would find an opening to engage on the nuclear issue or anything of the sort. It isn't addressing the issues that we're dealing with in a concrete way." Rice makes that comment as she fails to get a meeting of the UN permanent 5 to agrre to a response to Iranian uranium enrichment/nulcear proliferation. Source: n.a. "Ahmadinejad Letter Attacks Bush." BBC News. May 9, 2006.

Russia and China express opposition to the propised UN draft resolution. Chinese UN ambassador Wang Guangya states, "I think we have serious difficulty with Chapter 7 and the threat to international peace and security. These are the basic ones." Russian U.N. ambasador Vitaly Churkin states that the use of Chapter 7, "might in fact detract from the strength of this resolution because might be detracting from our goal of supporting the IAEA in its activities in working with Iran." Source: Evelyn Leopold. "Russia, China Dig In Against West on Iran." The Washington Post. May 5, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asserts that, "All our nuclear activities are in keeping with the generally recognized rules of international law, and are under full and unprecedented inspection of the International Atomic Energy Agency." Source: Caroline Alexander. "Iran Wants to Pursue Nuclear Program Under IAEA Supervision." Bloomberg. May 5, 2006.

IAEA issues report stating that Iran has defied the UN Security Council call for a freeze on enriching uranium and that its lack of cooperation with nuclear inspectors is a "matter of concern." Anticipating the IAEA report, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responded that, "The Iranian nation won't give a damn about such useless resolutions. Today, they want to force us to give up our way through threats and sanctions but those who resort to language of coercion should know that nuclear energy is a national demand and by the grace of God, today Iran is a nuclear country." George Jahn. "Nuclear Agency Says Iran Defying U.N." The Washington Post. April 28, 2006. Poor diety, always being dragged out to take the blame for the bad behavior of politicians.

At a political rally in Tehran Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad states defiantly that, "If you think by frowning at us, by issuing resolutions...you can impose anything on the Iranian nation or force it to abandon its obvious right, you still don't know its power. "We have obtained the technology for producing nuclear fuel ... No one can take it away from our nation." Edmund Blair "Iran President Rejects UN Call To Halt Enrichment." Reuters. April 27, 2006.

Iranian domestic politics presents a rhetorical arms race between Iranian leaders. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei states that, ""The Iranian nation will respond to any blow with double the intensity." Source: n.a. "Iran Leader Issues Warning To US." BBC News. April 26, 2006. "The Americans should know that if they assault Iran their interests will be harmed anywhere in the world that is possible." Source: n.a. "Iran Threatens Retaliation If America Attacks." The Guardian Unlimited. April 26, 2006.

In an effort to push the second Bush adminsitration's buttons, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tells Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir that, "The Islamic Republic is ready to transfer this experience and the technology and knowledge of its scientists." Source: n.a. "Iran 'Could Share Nuclear Skills'." BBC News. April 25, 2006. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reacts with apparent alarm to the statement. When Iran is done sharing, the future Sudanese nuclear strike forces may be as powerful as the contemporary Mongolian submarine fleet or Swiss space patrol.

Nuclear armed Israel launches Eros B satellite to spy on the nuclear weapons state wannabe Iran; satellite has a camera capable of deciphering objects on the ground as small as 70 centimeters across. Source: Ori Lewis. "Israel To Launch "Eye In The Sky" Over Iran: Report." Reuters. April 25, 2006.

CNN reports that Iranians encountered in Teheran express "immense pride" in having "joined the nuclear club". Aneesh Raman. "Iranians Happy To Be In The Nuclear Club." CNN April 25, 2006.

Consistency is important. Iranian oil ministry announces that it is cancelling the 960 million euro Olefin 11 contract with French, German and South Korean firms to build new petrochemical plant to allow domestic Iranian firms to do the work. Source: n.a. "Iran to cancel 960 mln euro petrochemical deal with Linde, Hyundai, Technip." AFX News Limited. April 24, 2006.

While in Russia, Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, states that Iran and Russia have a basic deal to enrich uranium in a joint venture but still have details to work out. Source: n.a. "Iran Has "basic" Enrichment Deal in Russia." Reuters. April 22, 2006.

Iranian Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani tells his Friday prayer worshippers ElBaradei and the IAEA had singled out Iran's quest for technology, while ignoring nuclear-armed Israel: "Israel has got nuclear warheads and it is proliferating them constantly and you do not ask them why." He denounces the UN Security Council for inconsistency: "You are establishing security for the wolves and predators rather than for the sheep." Moscow is opposed to talking about sanctions. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mikhail Kamynin states that, "We will only be able to talk about sanctions after we have concrete facts confirming that Iran is not exclusively involved in peaceful nuclear activities." Source: Alireza Ronaghi. "Russia Toughens Opposition to UN Sanctions on Iran." The Washington Post. April 21, 2006.

U.S. Undersecretary of State R. Nicholas Burns states that Washington believes it was time to ban arms sales to Iran and sales of "dual use" technologies that could be employed in Tehran's nuclear program to generate electricity or make a weapon. Source: Paul Richter and Kim Murphy. "U.S. Wants Embargo on Arms to Iran." The Los Angeles Times. April 22, 2006.

Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar dismisses possibility of a U.S. attack: "The United States has been threatening Iran for 27 years and this is not new for us. Therefore we are never afraid of U.S. threats," reporters during a visit to neighboring Azerbaijan. If you take into account the fact that they are not doing anything, this shows it is just talk." Source: Edmund Blair. "Iran Scoffs At US Strike Talk." The Washington Post. April 20, 2006.

Stiff response. When American diplomats use phallic imagery they mean war! Or are having fantasies of getting them some war. Commenting on three hours of negotations between the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany, U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns states that diplomats recognized the, "need for a stiff response to Iran's flagrant violations of its international responsibilities." Source: Henry Meyer. "U.S. Envoy: Iran Sanctions Discussed." Associated Press. April 19, 2006.

Is it silly hyperbole, dreadful metaphor, gross misperception or chiliastic insanity? Always difficult to tell in the Middle East. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad thunders that, "Today, you are among the world's most powerful armies because you rely on God. Iran's enemies know your courage, faith and commitment to Islam and the land of Iran has created a powerful army that can powerfully defend the political borders and the integrity of the Iranian nation and cut off the hand of any aggressor and place the sign of disgrace on their forehead." Source: Ali Akbat Dareini. "Iran Marks Army Day, Issues More Threats." Associated Press and The Seattle Intelligencer. April 17, 2006.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mikhail Kamynin reaffirs the Russian government's insistence on further diplomatic efforts with Iran: "We are convinced that neither sanctions nor the use of force will lead to the solution of the problem." Source: Vladimir Isachenkov. "Update 11: Russia Still Opposed to Sanctions on Iran." Associated Press. April 18, 2006.

Standing obediently beside U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay endorses possible economic sanctions against Iran: "It may not be the preferred option, but there aren't a lot of other options right now." Tom Harper. "MacKay Talks Tough on Iran." Toronto Star. April 14, 2006.

Where's the fire? According to two anonymous intelligence sources the announcement that Iran is enriching uranium does not change the intelligence estimate that Iran is 5 to 10 years away from acquiring the bomb. Warren P. Strobel, John Walcott and Jonathan S. Landay. "There's Little Agreement On What To Do About Iran." The Mercury News and Knight Rider Newpapers. April 14, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad states emphatically, "Our answer to those who are angry about Iran achieving the full nuclear fuel cycle is just one phrase. We say: Be angry at us and die of this anger," the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying. We won't hold talks with anyone about the right of the Iranian nation (to enrich uranium)." Ali Akbar Dareini. "Iran Touts Itself As a Nuclear Power." The Washington Post. April 13, 2006.

Israel's military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin tells Haaretez that, "The announcements from Tehran are a bargaining chip. They are meant to move the debate to the next point." Luke Baker. "Israel Reacts Warily to Iran's Nuclear Progress." The Washington Post. April 12, 2006. Alternatively, and more probably, Iran wants nuclear weapons for exactly the same reasons that Isreal acquired them: isolation, insecurity, deterrence and revenge.

During a photo-op with the military dictator of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, U.S. Secretaarry of State Condoleezza Rice responds to a question about Iranian nuclear proliferation by saying, "...when the Security Council reconvenes, I think it wil be time for action." Source: "Remarks With Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Before Their Meeting." U.S. Department of State. April 12, 2006. The reporters ignored the military dictator, which is the way he likes it. Rice on the other hand was probably thinking that the client government she wants to help install in Tehran should name an oil field after her.

Iran calls the American bluff. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declares that Iran is enriching uranium and has joined the club of nuclear countries," in a televised speech during an ridiculous ceremony involving singing and chanting. Source: Farah Stockman. "Iran Touts Advance In Nuclear Program." The Boston Globe. April 12, 2006. Proving once again that religion and nationalism cause humans to act insanely, what should be a reason for shame becomes a source for pride.

Radzhab Safarov, Director of the Center of Modern Iranian Studies in Moscow, states that U.S. air strikes against nuclear facilities in Iran might kill betwen 12,000 and 15,000 workers and damage but not destroy the economy. "[T]he Iranian economy would not be paralyzed and it would not result in a political crisis in the country. On the contrary, Iranians would maximally consolidate around their political leaders, Iran would withdraw from all possible legal structures and start full-scale development of its nuclear program." Source: n.a. "Iran's Economy Could Withstand U.S. Military Strike - Expert." RIA Novosti. April 11, 2006.

Seymour Hirsch reports in an article in the April 17, 2006 issue of The New Yorker that despite public advocacy of diplomacy the second Bush administration increased "clandestine activities inside Iran and intensified planning for a possible major air attack." The primary focus of clandestine activity is support for ethnic minority opposition groups. Source: Seymour M. Hirsch. "The Iran Plans: Would President Bush Go to War to Stop Tehran From Getting the Bomb?" The New Yorker. April 17, 2006. What else does the second Bush admisnitration have left to lose now that its other efforts in the Middle East have failed? The leaked threat is impressive in and of itself and an actual attack on Iranian nuclear facilities would be the last important thing that the neo-con clique making administration foreign policy could do for Israel. But what if the threat fails and there is no attack?

U.S. presidential aide Dan Bartlett states that, "The president's priority is to find a diplomatic solution to a problem the entire world recognizes. And those who are drawing broad, definitive conclusions based on normal defense and intelligence planning, are ill-informed and are not knowledgeable of the administration's thinking." Source: n.a. "U.S., Iran Shrug Off Reports Of War Plans." Free Press News Service. April 10, 2006.

President George W. Bush dismisses report Seymour Hersh that his administration is planning the planet's second nuclear attack (once again against a non-nuclear weapons state) as "wild speculation" in a speech at a branch of the Johns Hopkins University in Washington DC. "The doctrine of prevention is to work together to prevent the Iranians from having a nuclear weapon. I know here in Washington prevention means force. It doesn't mean force necessarily. In this case it means diplomacy. What you are reading is just wild speculation which happens quite frequently here in the nation's capital." Source: n.a. "Bush Dismisses 'Iran Attack Plan'." BBC News. April 11, 2006. The problem for Bush is that he has apoorer record of speaking the truth than Seymour Hersh.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw states that the idea of a U.S. military attack on Iran would be "completely nuts" and "is not on the agenda." He also states that Britain would not accept a preemptive strike. Source: n.a. "Military Strike on Iran "Not On Agenda"-UK's Straw." Reuters. April 9, 2006.

IAEA announces that International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Mohammed ElBaradei will be in Tehran on Tuesday April 11 or Wednesday April 12. Source: n.a. "IAEA Chief to Visit Iran." CNN. April 9, 2006.

Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll reveals that 54% of respondents answered "No" to the following question: "Do you trust George W. Bush to make the right decision about whether we should go to war with Iran?" Of the remaining respondents, 42% answered "Yes" and 4% answered "Don't know."

Iranian-American negotiations over Iraq in Baghdad are put on hold. Barry Schweid. "US-Iran Talks Over Iraq Put on Hold." The Washington Post. April 7, 2006.

Iranian cleric and political insider Ahmad Khatami, (Friday prayer preacher at Tehran University and member of the Assembly of Experts), asserts during a radio broadcast that Iran will not comply with UN demands on nuclear proliferation. "Whether it is one month or one year, whatever timeframes you want to give us, the Iranian nation has explicitly said ... that it would not give up its rights on the nuclear issue. We will stand up for our rights until the last drop of our blood." Source: n.a. "Iran Cleric Says UN Nuclear Demand is Unacceptable." Reuters. April 7, 2006.

Japan and Saudi Arabia call for a Nuclear Free Zone in the Middle East and urge diplomacy to end the row over Iran’s atomic ambitions. Source: n.a. "Call for Nuke-Free Middle East." Agence France Presse and Times of Oman. April 8, 2006.

Is this the sound of a neo-con climp-down? U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton states that if the Iranian government defies a statement from the Security Council which urges suspension of its nuclear enrichment activities by the end of this month, the Security Council is likely to issue a stiffer warning demanding such compliance. "Then we will consider the next step, which may well be a Chapter 7 resolution that imposes sanctions of some kind." Source: n.a. "U.S.: Iran May Face Sanctions After Two UN Warnings." Reuters. April 6, 2006. At this rate, Bolton may pull ahead of Rice in the race for the title of least effective neo-con diplomat.

Iranian Revolutionary Guards Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi states that, ""We regard the presence of America in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf as a threat, and we recommend they do not move toward threatening Iran." He also states that, "The Americans should accept Iran as a great regional power and they should know that sanctions and military threats are not going to be benefit them, but are going to be against their interests and against the interests of some European countries." n.a. "Iran Says Military Threats Not in US Interests." Source: n.a. Reuters. April 5, 2006. In reality without Russia and or China as patrons Iran is still a rather flimsy "regional power."

More incoherence from the second Bush administration. In a hearing before the U.S. Senate, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice defends the Indo-American nuclear deal as recognition of an Indian fait accompli: "We are simply seeking to address an untenable situation," she says. Presumably some day some future Secretary of State in a future administration will say the same about Pakistan and Iranian nukes. Source: n.a. "Rice Defends India Nuclear Deal." 'BBC News. April 5, 2005.

More Iranian missile tests. With the test firing of a new radar avoiding Noor missile, Iranian Revolutionary Guards Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi claims that Iran is now able to "confront any extra-regional invasion," although he refrained from mentioning the United States by name. Source: Ali Akbar Dareini. "Iran Rolls Out Yet Another Missile." The Washington Post. April 4, 2006.

During a White House Press Briefing Scott McClellan responds to a question about secret talks between defense chiefs discussing a possible strike against Iran by saying, "I don't know about those reports. I haven't seen them." He then repeats that position that the U.S. is attempting to achieve a diplomatic solution and that Iran is not Iraq.

Iranian Rear Admiral Dehqani boasts that, " A powerful torpedo made by experts of the Revolutionary Guards will be test fired today in the Persian Gulf. Tomorrow, we will see other missile test firings by the Revolutionary Guards in the 'Great Prophet' war games." n.a. "Iran Says Will Test More Weapons in Wargames." Reuters. April 3, 2006. Amusingly, the torpedo is called the "Hoot" or "whale", neither or which appears calculated to strike terror in the hearts of Americans although it might sound ferocious to a people without a naval or maritime tradition like the Iranians. Source: Ali Akbar Dareini. "Iran Rolls Out Yet Another Missile." The Washington Post. April 4, 2006.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard air services Gen. Hossein Salami announces successful test of the Fajr-3 missile, claiming it is capable of delivering multiple warheads accurately and avoiding anti-missile missiles: "Today, a remarkable goal of the Islamic Republic of Iran's defense forces was realized with the successful test-firing of a new missile with greater technical and tactical capabilities than those previously produced." Ali Akbar Dareini. "Iran Says Test-Fire of Missile Able To Avoid Radar a Success: Fuels Suspicion Over Tehran's Plan". Associated Press and Boston Glode. April 1, 2006. Military posturing seems to have no national of ideological identity: Shiite Islamist miltiary posturing is indistinguishable from the military posturing of Italian fascists, Japanese miltiarists, Chinese communists, Israeli zionists, American conservatives, secular Baathist Arab nationalists and even that by the officers of the ancien regime of the Pahlavi Dynasty. "Look world! We are proud of our new killing machinery! Fear us for we have nothing else to offer."

Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki states that His country would not use oil as a weapon or withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iran was prepared for diplomacy or war: "I wish to stress that Iran's nuclear question can be approached from two perspectives: Cooperation and interaction or confrontation and conflict. I underline that my country has prepared itself for both possibilities." Maggie Farley. "Iran Minister Downplays Chances of Nuclear Face-Off." The Los Angeles Times. April 1, 2006.

Despite the fact that her administration has promoted regime change in Teheran, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice describes the UN Security Council statement giving Iran 30 days to chnage their ways as, "a strong signal to Iran that negotiation not confrontation should be their course." n.a. "Rice Says Iran Should Chose `Negotiation not Confrontation'." Bloomberg. March 30, 2006. In reality the signal is weak, in no small part because Rice is a weak U.S. Secretary of State.

IAEA Director-General Mohammad ElBaradei states that, "There is no military solution to this situation. It's inconceivable. The only durable solution is a negotiated solution." Jeffrey Fleishman and Alissa J. Rubin. Los Angeles Times. March 31, 2006.

Five permanent members of the UN Security Council inch toward agreement on the wording of a statement about Iranian nulcear proliferation. The Russian and Chinese diplomats say that the main obstacle was a provision in the draft text asserting that the Security Council is responsible for international peace and security. They worry that such langauge may used later as the basis for action against Iran. Source: n.a. "UN Council Close to Iran Deal." Reuters. March 29, 2006.

German prosecutors investigate whether six German evndors sold electronic equipment in a clandestine network that supplied Iran with equipment for its nuclear program. Richard Bernstein. "German Firms Targeted in Iran Inquiry." The New York Times and [[The International Herlad Tribune. March 29, 2006.

The military bluff has failed. British Foreign Minister Jack Straw says military action against Iran would be neither "appropriate or conceivable." Matthew Tempest. "Straw Rejects Military Action Against Iran." The Guardian Mach 28, 2006.

Iranian Ambassador to Russia Gholam-Reza Ansari tells reporters that the Iranian and Russian governments are still negotiating: "We remain in contact with our Russian partners and will continue the talks." n.a. "Russia, Iran Uranium Talks Sre Still On." United Press International. March 27, 2006. How serious these neotiations are remains unclear.

Speaking to the group of the Bisij, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei states that the "enemies" of Iran would be "disappointed" after any confrontations. Source: n.a. "Khamenei: Iran Will Resist Pressure On N-Programme." The Hindu. March 27, 2006.

Is the world facing a nuclear fait accompli? Perhaps it should have constructed better international institutions at the end of the Second World War to control nuclear weapons. IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei, 2005 Nobel Peace Prize winner, states that, "Too often, the Security Council's engagement is inadequate, selective or after the fact." n.a. "ElBaradei Criticises Security Council." Reuters and Aljazeera. March 26, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "God willing, this year is the year that Iran completely commissions nuclear energy for peaceful purposes." Iran is due to begin operations later this year at its nearly completed Russian built Bushehr nuclear reactor. Nasser Karimi. "Iran's hard-line president announces his support for talks with United States on Iraq." Associated Press and OnMy News. March 26, 2006. So now god is being blamed for civilian nuclear electric production that generates nuclear waste.

Looking for leverage? Sankei Shimbun reports that U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick and Undersecretary of State Robert Joseph informally requested that Japan suspend its development of Iran's Azadegan oil field, believed to be world's second largest. Source: Elaine Lies. "US Asks Japan to Stop Iran Oil Development-Paper." Reuters. March 23, 2006.

Discussing the Indo-American nuclear deal Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Stephen G. Rademaker states that, "We are confident that it's not the death knell" of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. To the contrary, we think bringing India into the international non-proliferation regime will strengthen the regime." Source: François MurphyThe Boston Globe. March 24, 2006. "Embrace your policy contradictions by denying their existence!"

Putting the best face on a bad situation, Gregory Schulte, U.S. representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), tells Reuters TV that, "I would expect in the coming days we'll see a statement coming from the Security Council." The Russians and Chinese insist on deleting lots of the text in the Franco-British draft statement about the Iranian nuclear program. Source: Mark John. "U.S. Still Expects UN Statement on Iran - Envoy." Reuters. March 22, 2006.

Russia and China appear to making common cause on Iran, in effect giving the emerging Southwestern Asian regional power a chance to develop nuclear weapons and become to power that the neoconservatives worry about. PRC Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang states that, "China and Russia have common views on how to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue." Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin is in Beijing and talking about a strategic partnership between Russia and China. Source: Lindsay Beck. "China, Russia United On Iran." Washington Post. March 21, 2006.

Representatives of the UN Security Council Permanent 5 Plus Germany meet In New York to discuss the Iranian crisis that threatens to become a non-crisis because the Russians and Chinese refuse to adopt a comparable tough stand. A senior U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity uses the word "hellbent" repeatedly in discussing the U.S. position: "We're not hellbent on going to war; we're not hellbent on imposing sanctions. We're hellbent on having the Iranians return to the negotiations, like the Russians and the Chinese want." Colum Lynch. "Top U.N. Members To Try to Break Stalemate on Iran." Washignton Post March 20, 2006. Note the religious references in the anonymous senior official's comment. Religious delusion sems at the heart of the diplomatic communication problem in both Teheran and Washington.

Gary Berntsen, former CIA operative who failed to capture or kill Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan in late 2001, tells the The Jerusalem Post' that the U.S. could easily destroy Iranian nuclear facilities using bunker-buster bombs. Yigal Grafeff. "'US Could Wipe Out Iran Nukes in 2 Days'." The Jerusalem Post. March 20, 2006. In effect Berntsen tells an Israeli news audience that more violence will make Israel safe. What is the definition of neuroticism?

Neo-conservatives still suffering from a responsibility deficit. When the second Bush administration isn't blaming the U.S. news media for its incompotence in Iraq it is blaming the Iranians. U.S. officials complain about the "unhelpful activities" of the Iranians. U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (Formerly to Afghanistan) Zalmay Khalilzad is authorised by the White House to enter into talks with Iran on the issue. Source: n.a. "U.S. Accuses Iran of "unhelpful activities" in Iraq." Reuters. March 17, 2006.

Having failed so miserably with the War in Iraq, the second Bush administration reaffirmed its policy of preemptive war in the adminsitration's second National Security Strategy report and named Iran as the primary threat against which such a policy might be implemented. Source: Peter Baker. "Bush to Restate Terror Strategy: 2002 Doctrine of Preemptive War To Be Reaffirmed." Washington Post. March 16, 2006. Unable to gauge the magnitude of the security threat posed by the Islamists and tempted to blow it out of proportion, senior administration officials say and may even believe that they are involved in a global conflict akin to the Cold War against the Soviet Union. See also Doug Lorimer. "United States: New Security Document Targets Iran." Green Left Weekly. March 29, 2006.

Iranian Security Official Ali Larijani states that Tehran was ready for direct talks with the Washignton over Iraq. Source: Gareth Smyth & Najmeh Bozorgmehr. "Teheran prepared to Hold Talks With Washington in Iraq." Financial Times. March 17, 2006.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hamid Reza Asefi states that the Iranian government stop its research on nuclear fuel even if instructed to do so by the United Nations Security Council. Source: n.a. "Iran Will Resist Any UN Call To End Atomic Research." Reuters. March 15, 2006.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rules out any retreat on nuclear development, equating it with Iranian national independence: "Any retreat at this point will bring an unending chain of pressures and further retreats. Therefore, this path is irreversible and the foreign policy establishment has to bravely defend Iran's right." Source: Ali Akbar Dareini. "Iran Leader: Nuclear Path 'Irreversible'." The Washington Post and Associated Press. March 14, 2006.

Revelation of a secret program at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston in Berkshire, England, in conjunction witht he United States to develop a replacement for the Trident nuclear warhead known as the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) arouses concern. Source: Michael Smith. "Revealed: UK Develops Secret Nuclear Warhead." The Times. March 12, 2006. Obvious Questions: Why does Britain need another generation nuclear weapons? Who is it going to threaten to use them against? How can the British government complain about Iranian nuclear proliferation when it is going forward with research like this?

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer states that Australia would not change its three decades old policy of refusing to export uranium to countries which had not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and despite President George W. Bush's embarce of Indian nuclear weapons status that includes India. n.a. "No Uranium Exports to India: Downer." The Age. March 12, 2006.

Embattled Pres. George W. Bush said that Javad Vaeedi's "harm and pain" threat involved oil. Bust commented to reporters that, "When I'm sitting around the Oval Office talking about national security matters and, somebody says 'did you see what the Iranians said about consequences?' -- really what they're talking about I guess is energy." He also said that, "For national security purposes we have got to become... not addicted to oil." Source: n.a. "Bush Assumes Iran Threat Is Over Energy." Reuters. March 10, 2006. Bush Jr. thus comes to a conclusion about oil dependence that most intelligent Americans reached way back in the Seventies.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented that, "The Security Council should not take upon itself the leading role in determining the presence or absence of real - and not imaginary - risks of violations of the nuclear nonproliferation regime." Nick Wadhams. "Security Council Considers Iran Proposals." The Guardian Unlimited March 10, 2006.

The United Nations begins consideration of the text of a resolution urging Iran to comply with IAEA demands. The U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton wants more than admonishment: "I think we all feel a sense of urgency, and that's certainly been communicated, but we're going to proceed in a deliberate and orderly fashion as well. How long and to what extent we pursue this in the Council, I think, principally rests in the hands of Iran." Source: Warren Hoge. "U.N. Council to Chastise Iran but May Sidestep Sanctions." The New York Times. March 10, 2006. Bolton flails away but convinces none of the other important players.

Iran calls the bluff of the United States. Unrepentant Iranian nuclear negotiator Javad Vaeedi said that "The United States may have the power to cause harm and pain but it is also susceptible to harm and pain. So if the United States wants to pursue that path, let the ball roll." Source: Elaine Sciolino. "Threats Rattle at Nuclear Meeting on Iran." The New York Times. March 9, 2006. The Iranians know that the second Bush administration has exhausted its political capital at home and abroad, that it cannot mobilize either domestic public opinion or international public opinion for military action.

According to IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei's report formally delivered to diplomats, the IAEA cannot, "conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran." A separate statement from France, Germany and Britain, a.k.a. the EU-3, states the belief that Iran's nuclear activities have a "military dimension" and that there is a "crisis of confidence" in Iran's intentions. Source: Jonathan Tirone & Andrea Dudikova. "UN Nuclear Agency Cedes Action on Iranian Program to Council." Bloomberg. March 8, 2006. France and Britain are both nuclear weapons states, neither of which has demonstrated any intention of nuclear disarmament since the end of the Cold War.

The Times reports that official Washington is divided over how to repsond to Iran's defiance of the IAEA. Source: Tom Baldwin. "Washington Splits Over Best Policy to Halt Iran's Nuclear Plan." The Times. March 6, 2006.

Fearing that a perfectly good interantional crisis, not to mention his only opportunity to make history, is now slipping away, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton told the annual Policy Conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) that there is an urgent need to confront Iran's "clear and unrelenting drive" for a nuclear weapons program. Source: Foster Klug. "Bolton: World Must Confront Iran." March 5, 2006. Why didn't Bolton and his neo-conservative clique foresee this problem before they occupied Iraq. Now that the U.S. military is tied down in the Iraqi quagmire a war against Iran would be very difficult.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki states that the government of Iran will not be giving up its nuclear program but that negotiations with Russia to establish a joint venture to enrich uranium would lessen international concerns. Source: George Nishiyama. "Iran Minister Says Won't Give Up Nuclear Program." Reuters Canada. February 28, 2006.

Speaking at a news conference in the Iranian city of Bushehr, Iranian nuclear chief Gholamreza Aghazadeh says that Iran agrees "in principle" to allow Russia to enrich uranium for fuel for use in the Iranian civil nuclear power program. Source: n.a. "Iran and Russia in Joint Venture." BBC News. February 26, 2006.

Russian nuclear energy chief Sergei Kiriyenko states that the offer to enrich uranium on Russian soil for Iran was still on the table. Source: n.a. "Russia and Iran in Last Bid Nuclear Talks." Aljeseera. February 25, 2006.

Dr. Abasi, advisor to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, is rep[orted to ahve threatened a retaliatory strike against Israel's Dimona nuclear reactor and other strategic sites such as the port city of Haifa and the Zakhariya area in response to a U.S. attack on nuclear plants in Iran. Source: Yossi Melman. "Iranian Advisor: We'll Strike Dimona In Response To U.S. Attack." Haaretz. February 25, 2006.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Adam Ereli politely rejected the Greman proposal that the U.S. enter talks with the Europeans and Iran on uranium enrichment. Source: n.a. "Update 1: White House Sits Out Iran Nuclear Talks." Associated Press and Forbes. February 23, 2006. Subtext: Participating directly in the talks would mean sacrificing the goal of regime change in Teheran and that is more important to Washington than prevnting nuclear proliferation.

IAEA chief Mohamed El Baradei decides to make no recommendations in a February 27 report to IAEA board members, a week prior to their meeting to consider the course of action recommended to the UN Security Council. Source: Mark Heinrich. "West May Have To Live With Low-Level Iranian Atom Work." Washington Post. February 19, 2006.

Iranian Embassy officials in Paris say that Iran only wants to produce low grade uranium, i.e. not weapons grade, and that the Iranian government is ready to ask the Iranian parliament to ratify an accord allowing United Nations inspectors to resume snap checks of its nuclear facilities under certain conditions. Source: n.a. "Iran Sets Terms for UN Nuclear Checks." Aljazeera. February 17, 2006.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy states that the Iranian nuclear program is a cover for a clandestine nuclear weapons program. Source: n.a. "France: Iran Program 'Military'." CNN February 16, 2006.

Second Bush administration requests supplemental FY2006 funds that includes $75 million for "democracy promotion" in Iran. $15 million would be used for civic education in Iran for labor unions and political parties. Source: Kenneth Katzman. "Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses." CRS Report for Congress. Updated Match 10, 2006. p. 26.

British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said that an international response short of military action was still possible once Iran achieved the capability of making nuclear weapons. Madeline Chambers. "Military Action On A Nuclear Iran Not Inevitable: UK." ABC News. February 8, 2006.

While in Athens, Greece, Russian Fopreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cautioned that, "I think that at the current stage, it is important not to make guesses about what will happen and even more important not to make threats." Source: Vladimir Isachenkov. "Russia warns Against Armed Conflict With Iran." Associated Press. February 6, 2006.

Pres. George W. Bush blusters that the IAEA decision sends, "a clear message" to Iranian government officials in Teheran. Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "re-blustered" that, "Our enemies cannot do a damn thing. We do not need you at all." Souce: Parisa Hafez. "Iran and US Square Up After IAEA Vote." Reuters. February 5, 2006. Bush and Ahmadinejad seem to have adopted the same high minded tone.

First day of the 2-day meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sceduled to file a progress report before the next general meeting of its 35 member board of governors in Vienna. Source: n.a. "UN Nuclear Agency to Report on Iran." Agence France Presse; George Jahn. "Nuclear Watchdog Group Considers Iran Referral." Associated Press. February 2, 2006.

Iranian government is unrepentent. Iranian IAEA representative Ali Asghar Soltaniyeh threatened that in the event the IAEA refres the matter to the UN Security Council, "We Iran would immediately stop voluntary co-operation with the Additional Protocol (spot-check regime). It would mean many areas covered by inspections now would no longer be covered. This would a serious historical mistake." Speaking to an Iranian crowd chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said, "I am telling those fake superpowers that the Iranian nation became independent 27 years ago... on the nuclear case will resist until fully achieving its rights." Source: George Jahn. "Nuclear Watchdog Group Considers Iran Referral." Associated Press. February 2, 2006. As ever, nationalism makes humans violent and stupid.

Meeting of the 5 permanent UN Security Council members in London agrees that the IAEA should report to the full UN Security Council on what Iran must do to cooperate with the agency, but not until March 6!. U.S. Secretary of State Rice apparently failed to convince them to take action sooner.

Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani responded to the decision of the 5 permanent members of UN Security Council, saying that although the crisis could still be resolved peacefully, "Reporting Iran's dossier to the U.N. Security Council will be unconstructive and the end of diplomacy." Source: Ali Akbar Dareini. "Iran Strikes Back at Big Five Decision." Associated Press. January 31, 2006.

A public opinion poll of 1,002 Americans conducted between January 23 and January 26 released by TNS indicates that 71% would support imposing economic sanctions on Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear technology while only 42% would support bombing Iranian nuclear development sites. Source: TNS/Washington Post/ABC News.

A meeting of European Union officials in Brussels does not recommend that the UN Security Council take up the issue of Iranian nuclear activities, perhaps because some fear the U.S. is seeking a pretext for war and because Russia and China appear reluctant to support the effort in the Security Council. Source: Mark John. "UN Security Council Needed in Iran Atomic Row - EU." Reuters. January 30, 2006. Had the second Bush administration not lost so much creibility with its invasion and failed occupation of Iraq, the world might be more willing to rally to its leadership on Iranian nuclear proliferation.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Yahya Rahim Safavi tells state television that, "If we come under a military attack, we will respond with our very effective missile defense." His Revolutionary Guard's Shahab-3 intermediate range missiles have a range of greater than 1000 km. and perhaps upwards of 2000 km., which would permit attacks against Israel. Source: n.a. "Missiles Ready For Any Attack, Warns Tehran." Courier-Mail. January 30, 2006. The Shahab-3 was first tested in 2004 and demonstrated ranges exceeding 1000 km. Those tests coincided with miltiary exercises in Western Iran advertised as military deterrence against attacks on Iranian nuclear plants. Source: SIPRI Yearbook 2005, Pp. 242-243.

Oil industry experts speculate that the price of oil could reach $90.00 a barrel as a result of the crisis. Iranian oil minister Davoud Danesh-Jafari warned that punitive action against his country would result in 'the unleashing of a crisis in the oil sector'. Source: Heather Stewart. "Iran Crisis 'Could Drive Oil Over $90." The Guardian. January 29, 2006.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw makes conciliatory noises at the World Economic Forum in Davis, Switzerland saying that diplomacy is the only way forward to resolving the problem. Source: n.a. "Britain Says Diplomacy, Not Force, Only Way Forward on Iran." Agence France Presse. January 28, 2006.

Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns is quoted as saying that the U.S. would be no dialogue between U.S. representatives and Iranian representatives at an upcoming Afghan donor conference in London. Burns also noted that the Iranians had not fully embraced the Russian enrichment offer. Source: David Gollust. "U.S. to Shun Iranians at Afghan Donor Conference." Voice of America. January 27, 2006.

In a press conference, U.S. President George W. Bush said that he supports Iran having civilian nuclear power but that he didn't "believe non-transperent regimes that threaten the security of the world should be allowed to gain the technologies necesary to make a weapon."

U.S. Ambassador to India David Campbell Mulford was summoned by Indian Foreign Minister to be told that his threat that a deal transfering US nuclear technology to India could collapse if India does not back a UN motion against Iran were "inappropriate and not conducive to building a strong partnership between the two democracies." Mulford expressed "sincere regrets." Source: n.a. "India Summons US Envoy Over Iran." BBC. January 26, 2006. Campbell is a heavy-weight contributor to various Republican election campaigns, a fact that had absolutely, positvely nothing at all to do with his appointment as an ambassador.

In an effort to persuade the governemnt of China not to oppose U.S. and Western European efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick warned Premier Wen Zibao that Iranian nuclear weapons development could threaten Chinese oil supplies. Source: n.a. "U.S. Envoy Warns China Over Iran Nukes." Associated Press. Janurary 25, 2006. Did Zoellick mean that after a war against Iran, China would lose access to Iranian oil? Now that's a heavy handed threat. Should help to confirm for the Chinese that the second Bush administration is thinking in terms of "containment."

Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani threatened that Iran would carry out uranium enrichment on an industrial scale if its nuclear actiivities were taken up by the UN Security Council. He also said that Iran will stay in the NPT regime. Source: n.a. "Iran Threatens to Carry Out Enrichment on Industrial Scale: Larijani." Agence France Presse. January 23, 2006.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad meets with Syria's Bashir al-Assad, prays conspicuously at a Shi'a shrine in Syria, and pledges support for support to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Source: Suleiman al-Khalidi. "Iran President Meets Palestinian Militants in Syria." Malaysia Star. January 20, 2006.

2008 Democratic Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton called for sanctions against Iran in an effort to flank the second Bush administration on its right by acusing it of "downplaying" the Iranian threat. Source: Geoff Mulvihill. "Sen. Clinton Calls for Iran Sanctions." Associated Press. January 19, 2006. Obvious foreign policy question: can the United States afford to wage a new third war against Iran when it is still bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Crude oil futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange rise to $65.85 a barrel in late trading.